Chapter Five

Not the Same as Before

"…transformation began and she grew large golden wings as predicted by the Phoenix Down." A smooth, strong voice spoke as Katani regained control of her senses. Whose voice was it? She slowed her breathing and kept her eyes closed to maintain the illusion of sleep and continued to listen, training had taught her to keep her eyes closed upon awakening, her mind always woke first.

Her ears listened for the voice that had stirred her from her slumber. "The prediction of the Down's power is being fulfilled and we don't even know what she is." It was Kurama, the fox apparition turned human whose arms were the last thing she was aware of before losing consciousness. She sensed his spirit energy in the room and upon closer inspection she could sense another whose spirit energy out shone the kitsune and made his energy seem that of an infant.

Who has such tremendous Spirit Energy? Katani thought and hoped to hear its voice. She got her wish. "I was afraid of this… The wings are only a small part of the legend. If she truly unlocked the sphere we could be in for a great deal of trouble. We must study her blood and determine what she is as soon as possible, before more of this chaos can unfold…" Chaos? Study? What the heck was going on? They must be talking about her, no more Phoenix Down existed now that she took the remaining sphere and unlocked it with her energy. The voice was unfamiliar to her and she wished she could see him, it definitely was a he. Her desire to continue listening out weighed her curiosity of the visitor so she remained motionless.

"She is no test subject, Koenma." Koenma? As in the son of Enma, ruler of Spirit World? No, not possible. Though that could provide explanation for the vast amount of energy. The prince of Spirit World constantly carried a device which he stored his energy in, though she knew not what the device was. Kurama continued in a low but firm voice. "If the book is true we must follow the clues, she may hold some of the answers but if we really want the truth we mus-"

The click of a door being unlocked and opened interrupted him. The aura that entered was disguised, and disguised well. Katani could figure out nothing from this visitor, till he spoke. She knew he cold voice instantly.

"Koenma you are requested by Botan, your contacts have been made." Hiei, fire demon of the Jagan.

When Koenma spoke his voice was under toned with panicked but he quickly assumed his cool. "Thank you Hiei, I'll go right away. Kurama," a pause, then "we'll finish this later. Inform Yusuke of the details. You might have to repeat yourself."

"Of course," Katani sensed something akin to resentment in Kurama's voice but she couldn't be sure.

The door clicked shut, Katani was becoming restless. She wanted some answers.

"How is she fox?" Hiei's voice was low and cautious.

A sigh came from Kurama. "Three days and she has yet to stir. Her pulse is steady and her vitals strong, yet…"

Three days? I've been out of it for three days! Katani thought with a jolt of panic.

"Have you been able to enter her dreams?" Kurama asked. Heck no! Katani thought. He better not have or I'll rip his short little-

"Yes. Her energy is completely drained so her barriers were easy to break. Like glass…"

"You did not go through her memories correct?"

"Hn, what does it matter if I did? She's just a stupid girlKurama; she has no privacy after being arrested." This was more then Katani could bear.

"Excuse me?" she bolted upright, making the two boys jump with surprise.

"You were-" Kurama started. Katani wouldn't let him finish.

"Yes I was awake! I've been awake for five freakin minutes! If you went through a single second of my memory I will personally kick your butt so hard that you will lose any hope of growing what two centimeters you may have left in that short demon body of yours!" Katani stopped for air.

Hiei's red eyes flashed. "Say that again woman." He dared.

"You heard me! Do you have a hearing problem or are you just plain stupid!" The fire demon's eyes flashed again, but there was a smile in them. Kurama, too, had a smile in his eyes. Katani was becoming more flustered by the second. I really might kill someone tonight. She thought. Out loud she said, "What's so funny?" She stepped onto the floor. Bad move. Being bed ridden for three days did not do wonders for her muscles, she was falling to the floor when she saw a blur of black and felt strong hands lifting her back to the bed. Hiei.

"Listen woman before you continue your spasm know that I did not go through any part of your mind. I even left your pathetic dreams in their place. Only your barriers are broken."

"Why did you break my barriers?" Katani asked while trying to regain her calm.

A smirk crossed his face. "None of your concern."

Kurama stepped in before Katani could retort. "Katani, please listen." He waved his hand in a gesture of humility and Katani looked at him. Here she was, their prisoner, and he was saying please? Who was this guy?

A smile lit Katani's face. "You said please, of course I will listen. Forgive my harsh attitude Hiei, I apologize."

Hiei looked taken aback. I may actually be able to stand this girl. He thought. She had spoken as he did, and she wasn't afraid of him. He wasn't used to that. "Hn," was his only spoken reply.

"You were saying?" she prompted, looking at Kurama. He had to stop and think about his words, he hadn't expected her to listen.

In a steady stream of information he explained the situation to her. She was a convicted felon now, the theft of Phoenix Down assured that. Katani wanted to tell him how it had been her's in the first place. She wanted to tell him how some renegade sprit detective had stolen her treasure and handed it over to his boss for a promotion but knew she'd be wasting her breath. Kurama continued to say that she had been in a catatonic state till eight minutes ago and Koenma had decided her fate. "He will come talk to you after his business with Botan is done."

"So are we in the spirit world now?" She asked.

"No, we are at a base used by covert spirit world agents. Your scars needed special treatment." His words reminded Katani of what she had recently endured and thinking of it seemed to summon the pain. With a low gasp she felt an intense burning across her upper back.

"What are they?" she asked.

"We were hoping you could tell us." Hiei said.

"Your blood is still a mystery," said Kurama, "it matched no other living organism. Spirit World's best labs could not tell us. Maybe you can."

"Hmph, If I knew what I was I wouldn't have gone after Phoenix Down in the first place. I wish to know what I am as much as anyone else. Though now my only desire is to avenge my brother's death. I care not what happens to me after that."

"You think Koenma will let you get out of here?" Hiei asked with a cocked brow.

Katani was silent. She looked at the floor. Kurama sat beside her on the bed. "To chase two deer will result in the obtaining of neither. Though if you employ hunters to assist in the chase both objectives may be reached for the delight of all."

Katani looked at him, his eyes were just as she had dreamed about them while in coma. She felt a blush rise in her cheeks and hid her face from him. When she spoke it was in a stutter. "A-r-re you saying that…?" She let her sentence hang.

"Rest Katani…" She felt a soft powder rise in the air, her last thought before the darkness took her was that she thought she smelt roses.

"You're too kind Kurama. We can't treat her as an ally." Hiei stated bluntly as they walked down the hallway to find Yusuke.

"Why not? Has she not proven true to her word? I see no reason in at least being lenient with her. She is simply after the same thing we are after, only with different reasons. Why could we not let her help us? Even you said she was a 'half-decent fighter'." Kurama opened a double bolted lock with a silver key and walked inside. Yusuke and Kuwabara were playing with the station's flight simulator. Botan and Koenma pushed through Kurama and Hiei to reach them first.
"You idiots! That's not a toy! Put that down Kuwabara!" Koenma shouted.

"Yusuke stop that!" Botan stopped pulling Yusuke off the machine and looked at Kurama and Hiei. "Oh there you two are. Any news on the gold blood girl?"

"She has wakened. I gave her a strong rose powder to let her enter deep sleep for a little while. In that stage she will be able to recover some spirit energy." Kurama left out that Katani had overheard much conversation while 'asleep'. He was troubled by this, how much did she know?

"Well that's good, I'll need to talk to her soon. She has much to answer for."

"How bad is it?" Yusuke asked.

"Not good, though if she agrees to my proposal she will be saved from life in confinement."

The detectives looked at each other, this was unusually harsh even for Koenma.

"Does she have a record?" Kurama asked, seeking to find some answer to the brutal sentencing.

"No, there is nothing about her in our database save what we have now. Her blood is still being examined and we've found it has a very interesting energyfilter."

"Energy filter? What's that?" Kuwabara asked.

"Do we have to explain everything to you?" Hiei asked from the windowsill. He had taken to sitting there, constantly on the lookout for anything and everything.

"Energy filters are what control the amount of spirit energy each person can have. It acts as a sponge, absorbing more energy the more powerful the individual becomes. When they've reached their max no more power can be gained, like a sponge filled with water can absorb nothing more. The person will have reached their max potential." Koenma explained. "Now the girl, Katani, has filters of a completely different makeup. We don't completely understand them but they have the potential to store limitless amounts of energy." Koenma paused to let his words sink in. Then with a deep breath he continued. "Her new scar is also an enigma. It appears to be years old but from what you four have told me it should still be fresh. Her healing rate is beyond anything I have ever seen."

"Could it be the Phoenix Down that facilitates these abilities?" Kurama asked.

"Quite possibly. By the way do any of you know how she opened it so quickly?"

"Nah, by the time we got there her transformation had already started." Yusuke shrugged.

Koenma paused for a moment and thought over his choices. Coming to a conclusion he stood from his oversized armchair. "I will go see her now. Ogre!"

"Yes Koenma, sir?"

"Have my machine brought in!"

"Right away Koenma sir." The ogre left and came back with what looked like a saloon blow-drying machine. Koenma put his head into it and came back out looking like a teenager. Save for the pacifier in his mouth and Jr. still written across his forehead.

"Let's go."

Katani stood slowly by clutching a chair for support. When she finally stood up straight she began the painful results of the transformation. Every muscle in her body felt sore and the scar on her throbbed. She expected as much but what confused her was that she couldn't bring her wings forth by her will. The window never looked so tempting.

"I made a promise," she thought as she carefully pulled her shirt on. "I have to stick to it. No matter what the consequences. What did I have to lose?" She ran a comb through her hair and washed her face. Her body felt so grimy but knew it would take her well over a hour to shower at this rate.

"Katani?" Someone knocked on her door. She recognized the voice from earlier. "We're coming in."

Katani turned quickly and instantly regretted it. She composed herself and tried to appear strong. A teenager with a pacifier strode in followed by the group of four boys that had chased her, it seemed, on a regular basis now.

"Can I help you gentlemen?" Ever-so-slightly she bowed. The effort made her scar burn in protest.

"Yes, we are prepared to make you an offer. I am Koenma, prince of spirit world."

"You should see him as a midget." Yusuke grinned. "He still wears diapers."

"Yusuke!" Koenma looked ready to assault him.

Katani couldn't help but giggle. Kurama looked over to her and smiled. She smiled back and returned her gaze to Koenma. "What can you possibly offer me that I don't have already?"

"Your freedom."

Katani's smile disappeared. "I'm very sorry to say this but you have no grounds on which to keep me here against my will. I came to hear you out but I could leave at any time." Katani glanced at the window.

Hiei grinned. "You are in so much pain you could barely dress yourself let alone escape."

"Spying on me are you? Be careful where you look with that eye of yours, someone might accidentally stick a pencil in it."

Hiei didn't even blink at her.

"I don't think that would be a smart choice, blondie. Why would you want us to chase you again?" Yusuke stared at her with folded arms.

"What have I done that you would keep me here for?"

"You stole the Phoenix Down and used it illegally."

"Excuse me detective but I was merely taking back what was stolen from me!"

"Stolen from you?" Koenma asked.

"Yes, why do you think I was the only who knew how to open it? It was mine until your ex-detective stole it. I've been waiting to get it back and I did knowing you would chase me. I'm not all that stealthy but you did not bother to put any security around the Down at all so I had a pretty easy time of it."

"If what you say is true why didn't you report the theft when it first occurred?" Koenma asked.

"I did. Check your records. I filed three complaints, one to the police force and the other two to your agents Koenma."

"Hiei is she lying?" Yusuke asked.

Katani strengthened her mind barriers but I was no use. He was too strong for her.

"No." Was all he said.

Koenma suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Well then. I suppose I owe you an apology. However that gives you no right to break into the vault and steal it back."

Katani's eyes narrowed. "Tell me my sentence, please."

"I leave it up to these four. You are in their service until the case I have assigned them is complete."

"What!" Katani and Hiei yelled.

"Cool, we get a cheerleader!" Yusuke exclaimed.

Against her will Katani threw her shoe at his head. It hit dead on.

"Hey, what was that for?"

"Opps, I went to put on my shoes but my hand must've slipped…"

"Katani I have a question before I turn you over to these boys." Koenma said.

"Yes, sir please be quick so I can begin this cruel punishment."

"I'll ignore that. How did you unlock the Phoenix Down?"

"I told it to open."

"That's it? You said 'open'?" Koenma asked in disbelief.

"Yep. Simple as that. Even if you had said that it wouldn't have worked because you don't own it now do you?"

"But- uh… Yusuke I leave her in your hands."

"I am forever in your debt." Yusuke grinned evilly.

Koenma hit him over the head and Kurama looked as if he wanted to do the same.

"To your case detec-" Koenma was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. The window behind them was broken into hundreds of pieces. Katani heard a warning neigh from outside it.

"Feer!" Katani ran to the window. Her horse was on the outside pacing back and forth. "Himadolea Feer! Himadolea!" Feer stopped and ran to the window. Katani heard the boys surround her.

"I'm not going anywhere, my horse is hurt. Feer! Himadolea." Feer half reared and placed his hooves on the wall to reach up to her. Katani gasped when she saw two long scars running down his shoulders all the way to his withers. They were bleeding slowly. Katani reached to her throat and ripped off her necklace. With one fluid motion she revealed her sword. Two sets of hands grabbed her shoulders.

"Let me go! I know what I'm doing." The grip slackened but still held. Feer saw this and reached up to bite Yusuke on the shoulder.

"HIMADOLEA FEER!"

Yusuke jumped back just in time. All this stress was taking a toll on Katani. She felt very weak. Slowly she brought the blade on her palm. Gold blood seeped from the wound and she placed it on Feer's wound. Red mingled with gold and the bleeding stopped almost instantly. "Naracarta sepoa jinina, vacarla! Vacarla!" Feer pushed off the wall and disappeared into the trees. "Good boy…" Katani walked to her bed slowly and sat on the edge. She refused to pass out again. "You were saying?"

"What language were you speaking?" Kurama asked.

"I've never heard anything like it." Kuwabara scratched his head.

"Is it Pig Latin?" Yusuke wondered.

"It is no language any of you are aware so I see no point in divulging the details. Are we leaving? Can I go back to my home now?"

"Say please and I'll think about it." Yusuke smirked.

"Fine," Katani stood and faced the detective, her gaze made up for any weakness in her body.

"Yusuke, get out of here." Koenma said.

"Yes, you mustn't be such a tease." Kurama stood between Katani and Yusuke. "We have to figure out where she will stay so we can keep an eye on her,"

"Keep an eye on me? I'm not going to be babysat by a bunch of juvenile delinquent boys!"

"You are in no position to argue woman." Hiei said with eyes closed. He looked as if he could care less about the entire situation. "You have two options, leave willingly or have one of us carry you out."

"I can walk just fine." Katani painfully threw her coat on and walked to the center of the room. She was sick of arguing. Might as well play along. There was nothing she could do until she had her strength back anyway. "Let's go to my house. It's private and we can discuss this stupid case."

"And just how are you supposed to-" Katani didn't give Hiei a chance to finish. She sliced the air in the center of the room with her blade. A deep rift appeared.

"Let's go." Katani walked through before anyone had a chance to stop her.

"Is it safe?" Kuwabara poked gingerly at the portal.

"She went through." Yusuke and Kurama followed Katani. Hiei came right after.

"Hey! Wait up!" Kuwabara ran through just as the portal began to disappear.

"Yusuke you'd better not forget to keep me informed!" Koenma called after them.