"Kurama…what brings you here?" asked he tiny ruler. Kurama sighed; he hated working with the young man. He was always so impatient and bossy, yet even if he knew why Kurama was there, and he almost always did, he made him explain. "Koenma-sama, Youko says that you can separate him from my body."

"It is within my power to do so, yes, but I hold the power to decide whether he deserves it."

"Yes, Koenma-sama, I know. It is simply, although we are the same person, in a sense, we…"

"Have fallen for other people. Yes, I know, I know. You love my assistant, while he wishes to be with his mate, the fair Kagome Higurashi. Hm…but how do I know he won't return to his old life of crime?"

"You really think Kagome would let him get away with that?" Kurama asked, letting a smirk adorn his face.

"Hm.I guess not…still…"

"What is it, Koenma-sama?"

"Well, to separate a soul is not a simple task. I must have a few materials."

"And what are they?" Kurama felt unease growing in his chest; he didn't think this would be an easy task.

"Well…" he opened a large book and located the spell. "Let's see…a body part from each person, some water from the holy spring of Edna, and mint from the top of Mt. Hiei, a diamond from the ravens' nest on Snaggletooth Peak, and…oh yes, this might be harder."

"What's that?"

"Something dear to each person. It could be a token of love, or…but it cannot be a real person, so you can't use your loved ones."

"As if we'd use them in ceremonies like that anyway! Who knows what would happen to them!"

"Yes, yes, Kurama, now calm down. Any questions?"

"Where is Edna's spring?"

"Ah, yes, I'll give you maps to get everywhere." Koenma went to his drawer and brought out three scrolls. He unrolled one. "This is the spring of Edna. It's not that hard to get to, but be cautious; no one who has drank the water has come back alive, and it is surrounded by a spell that makes all but the most determined become exhausted and dehydrated. Almost no one can resist the pull of Edna's spring."

"I can resist it. Now where is Mt. Hiei and why would it be so hard to get mint from?"

"Mt. Hiei is here."

"Wait a moment, this isn't a map of the Makai…Mt. Hiei is in Ningenkai?"

"Yes, in Japan in fact."

"What's the catch…"

(A/n: Mt. Hiei is a real place, I don't own it, and I'm completely making this up.) "Well, many, many innocent people were brutally slaughtered there, and their souls protect the mountain. They protect the one place of peace they've known: the mint fields on the top of the mountain."

"Nice…" Kurama took the map. "The last one sounds like simple fighting, if you'll give me the map…"

"You're correct there, but be careful. It's like the spring of Edna, the diamonds are very alluring. Once out of the ravens' domain, however, they have no more power, but are worth more than one thousand Hirusecki stones."

"So watch out for bandits, is what you're saying."

"Exactly. And be careful, not to mention be on the lookout for something special to you."

"All right. Will hair work for the body parts?"

"That'll work fine. That's probably the easiest part, anyway."

"Yes, it is. Thank you, Koenma."

"Good luck, Kurama. And don't get yourself killed."

"I wasn't planning on it." And with that he exited the building.