Yusuke found he woke at false dawn, cracking his neck with some irritation as he heard the faint breathing of the awake but silent brute he called a best friend. He scoffed and threw off his covers, emerging from the futon with a grumbling protest from his tired body and shrilling wail from his bare feet as they touched the cold stone floor.

He yawned and smacked his lips as he moved them to the fur rug, and he stood with a larger stretch before he put on his shirt and left to the halls of the castle. He had heard Kurama expounding upon it since he had first visited, and he too wanted to see what the fox had been raving about. The halls were interesting, but he found himself bored with the vines and windows-that-seemed-impossible, the vibrant tapestries and vases.

Hiei joined him on his walk, and the silent hybrid seemed in no mood for any sort of conversation, and Yusuke left it at that. They wandered together for hours it seemed, and Yusuke basked in the silent camaraderie that had taken no short while to build. He grinned and threw his arms above his head, stretching once again and ignoring the bemused look (a rather empty expression on the hybrid except for the one tilt of his mouth and the raised eyebrows over slits of eyes) his friend sent him. He couldn't help it if his body was tired.

He didn't get a very good night's sleep, something about the castle and the situation he found himself in throwing his senses off. He knew there was something more about every little thing, and he was going crazy trying to spot what he was missing- he was literally taking second and third looks at the simplest things.

It was a while later that Kuwabara decided to join them, and silent greetings of morning ensued between them as the every bright eyed and bushy tailed Kurama wove his way through the halls to greet them as well. It seemed only scant moments later that they found themselves facing their host and Kagura, the towering but strangely gentle demon giving them a smile and nodding happily at their fox friend. Koenma fluttered about on the sidelines of that duo.

Yusuke found he was uneasy with the heavy despair that clung to the scent of soil on the forest hanyou, and he focused on Kagura as she spoke.

"Kagome has gone to the east to visit her son, we go there as well to check on her and make sure that nothing there has been desecrated." It was said with a slight glare to the prince, and Koenma flinched suitably under her gaze. Yusuke scratched the back of his head in confusion before he decided to just throw his question out there- nothing like the present and shock to get some real answers.

"So what exactly was on that scroll that is making these places get ransacked?"

There seemed to be a pause in the air; as he watched the rather stupefied expression cross Kurama's face and Hiei seemed to blink at him in amused pride. Surely someone had asked that question before? He scratched the back of his neck- had he just been ignorantly rude again? He had a knack for that.

He shrugged his shoulders and walked away to the room she had pointed out, coming to a portal base that struck him as both ancient and powerful. He wasn't really worried about the answer to his question, he was just in some mood he guessed; besides what he really wanted to do was directly see this miko and speak to her again.

They all followed in some state or the other, and he found himself smirking at certain faces and especially the brats. Koenma really had no clue about any of this stuff did he? And he was making an ass out of himself- so typical.

.x.

Kouga didn't move from where his body had frozen; the growl and outrage only held in check by the damnable feeling of shock and core shifting disbelief and pain that was on his miko's face. He knew not why this match had started, only belatedly somewhere in the back of his mind realizing that the burial grounds of Souten's son – Yuuki – was one of the places they had buried a piece of the tale. But that didn't reach his brain- he was only living to see her lash out at their miko, watching their miko flinch and glare and shiver, listening as their voices became irate and soul damaging: Souten's rising to ear splitting levels, Kagome's lowering to frigid ice and tortured convictions.

"I too know of pain Souten, you are reacting out of fear. You were trained with your logic, use it!" The sharp voice was used to grab your attention and focus your energy, but Souten remained oblivious.

"You know not pain! You aren't a mother who lost her son! How dare you, even attempt to, try and identify with me!" The thunder demoness shrieked, and it kept his attention only partly away from the just now noticed arrival of some stupefied reikai tantei and their boss, and the shocked gasp of Kagura as she escorted them from the central lands.

"Souten you must calm yourself."

Kouga distractedly reached out to their miko, watching as her calm voice was betrayed by her trembling hands and the faint whisper of her power as it rushed along the stones to the earth.

"I will not calm! Dare you try to order me onna?" The female hissed out in ire, and the swift sound of cloth shifting rapidly as Shippou stepped between the two females of his life, facing his mate with an angry expression of disappointment marring his green eyes.

There was a stunned and anticipatory silence that enshrouded all, and those who had appeared from the portal into the fight could only watch the closed and pained expression of the miko and the heaving and enraged form of Souten of the East. There were tears of anger and fear in her eyes, but Kagome only turned her head slightly away…giving them her profile and clasping her arms in a prayer position over her heart.

Shippou snarled before he turned his adoptive mother and pushed her to Kouga and she followed along docilely enough. Souten hissed out in anger again, lightning faintly cackling along her figure before Shippou quelled her with a glance. A silent battle of wills was going on between the two mates, and Kagome spoke up faintly from beside him. "Please, save your ire for the tales…we need to save the sacred grounds. Don't fight over something so petty when we need each other." Kouga growled faintly as he heard the under note- don't fight over me.

Shippou gave his mate a glance that she stormed out of the room with- being chased out by the equally but far more impressively storming eyes of Shippou. Kagome sighed some melancholy note that caused Kouga to stiffen, he had heard that from her only once before.

He shook his head from his thoughts as the kit gave him a deferential nod, obviously realizing he was there for some other reason than to witness the spectacle that had just occurred. "There happens to be some suspects taken in to Reikai for questioning." He gave Kagome a telling look as her face turned to him, emotions clearing for the meeting to come.

Koenma spluttered, "Exactly how would you know this?"

Kagome's face scrunched up, not visible by the Reikai brat or his detectives, and Kouga knew she was trying not to laugh at the stupidity of the prince. Shippou spoke as he approached closer to his adopted mother. "Ayame sent in a guard, do you think he would only be loyal to you? He was ours first, and he lives and breathes for our protection."

.x.

The demon snarled violently and thrust against its bonds, guarding itself against the capturers and letting none near even as it tried to lunge and injure one of them with no weapon. A sullen human was sitting in the corner of the office, taking wary perusal of the surroundings he found himself in and the company he was forced into.

Kouga growled out in a snarl, Inuyasha strangely echoing it in tandem as they both stepped forward in menacing carnality. The demon froze at the two dominants approaching him, and the human gave an oddly subdued sigh before he curved more into his own body and stared out in some anger and vindication.

Kagome spoke up meekly. "You're telling me that human wrecked my gardens?"

The human startled and almost fell out of his seat, looking at the miko with wide eyes and taking in her present figure. She was a small vision to behold, all gentle and meek looking with her closed eyes and clasped hands. Kouga growled and stepped to block his view, watching the human's awe and wonder turn to vindictive hate and anger before he turned his head away.

Kouga only watched him carefully for a few more moments and then turned his attention to the people that had accompanied them and their reactions to the questionable duo. Inuyasha was right beside him silently snarling out his outrage, but Kouga had found over the years that his partner was usually one to answer with anger and mistrust before he looked at the whole story and collected all the facts.

He shook his head, focusing on the feel of his hair as it splashed across his neck to take his mind of the situation he had found himself in. Sure he was happy to be there for his friend and the miko, but he would rather be with his mate running the lands. He snapped his gaze back into focus as the door opened, his hand automatically reaching to his side for the blade he had used so little back then, but now relied on so much.

The spirit came into the room smugly, floating along behind the prince of reikai with the air (and that was literally all that he was) of someone who knew they were going to get some kind of reward. He was being escorted without bonds, so he wasn't considered a suspect- but Kouga noticed the way his eyes darted to the two perpetrators with a sly smugness that meant he knew more than he was letting on. And Kouga already hated him- he didn't smell right (as much as a spirit could smell, he supposed, but he had been around Kikyou long enough to understand the difference between the good paranormal substance and the bad).

Inuyasha stepped protectively in front of the miko when she shivered, and Kouga found it strange that she had only done so in the presence of this spirit and not the demon or tainted human. It told so much. The demon snarled in anger at the spirit, and Kouga watched its expression only waver slightly – with spite and greed and slight fear – before it returned to its steady mask of calm and forced regality- he wanted to push on people the fact that he was a strong virtuous and rich spirit…bastard.

The human too snarled, silently, like all he had done since they had entered the room and spotted him, and their miko tilted her head at an odd angle as she regarded something only she could see. The faint sounds of muffled cursing reached his ears and he snapped his head up at a shatter.

The demon broke his ogre bonds and lunged to the spirit, cursing out insanities and profanities as the spirit dodged the swipes of claws and fists.

'He needs to dodge…?' Something wasn't measuring up…

The miko gasped as the demon swiped too close to her person, and when she moved away from the claws she bumped straight into Kouga's own chest. His hand steadied her at her shoulder, briefly encountering the chain at her neck before he shifted his fingers and gave a gentle reassuring squeeze.

They retreated to the edges of the conference room as the three perpetrators realized each other's complete presence. "You!" The human snarled as he finally stood from his seat, "I should have known this was your plan!" And he lunged.

The demon cried out in fury at being held once again, and he struggled anew, wanting to be part of the scuffle that was happening between the spirit and the human. There were general sounds of cacophony and calls for order amidst the angry accusations flying. The confusion permeated the air something tangible, you could reach out and actually grasp it, but it continued getting more oppressive and the accusations and shouts continued. And it was all silenced by one cry from the spirit, damning them all.

"You said we could get it! ...You said it would be there...How was I to know it was a puzzle? ...We were supposed to have that power! ...You traded us in for another chance! … How …power…Highers…ancient source…traitor! …

The human snarled; "We were so close to finding that gem!"

The three cohorts stopped, staring wide eyed at the Highers gathered, noting how they had suddenly stilled and a heavy aura was wrapping around them so thick you could almost touch it- touch it and recoil, for this was the aura of someone who was so shocked that anger was slowly being let in, that anger would let anything plausible or implausible happen. Their lives were on the line.

Even Koenma stopped his whiny shouts for order and stared in stupefied shock at the reaction of the Highers present, even Kagome stopped her worrying to step forward with a hand fisting. "What did you say…?" her slow sentence brought attention to her, but she wasn't looking at them, she wasn't even looking up.

The spirit spluttered. She looked up, actually looking straight into the spirit, and he deflated and floated to a standstill at the power of her gaze. Kouga almost sympathized, for he had been under that gaze before, but this spirit had endangered all they had worked for and therefore deserved none of his empathy. Kouga growled slightly as he kept pace behind Kagome, guarding her back as she stepped towards the three miscreants.

"Did you just…"

The demon slashed out, barely missing the miko by a brush of her bangs, some stray hairs falling to the floor. Inuyasha jumped forward before he could, and Kouga briefly cursed the fact that the only time Inuyasha was faster than him was when Kagome was in danger. The demon was held by his throat against the wall, and a fuming figure of Inuyasha only looked more intimidating because his eyes had darkened to bloody gold and the slash marks of his heritage were making their way across his cheeks as the crescent flickered on his forehead.

And it was finally silent.

Kouga sighed as he found himself annoyed by all the happenings- they had enough information to incite justice, there was no need for this. But he sent a warning glance at the human as he stood. Fang revealed in a smirk. He was all for fighting if it was needed, but only then.

Inuyasha eased off the demon, and he stepped back to Kagome with a stoic expression as the demon shivered and slowly sunk to the ground with a whimper. He dazedly watched his cohorts get subdued by some more demons and ogres, watched uncomprehendingly as he too was subdued and left with his human ally.

"Let me go!" The spirit screamed as supernatural bonds held it on its course, his two once allies looking back at him with the silent smug air of someone who was glad to bring you with them to hell.

And then they disappeared around the bends of the halls and doors and you could almost hear the shouts of rage as they echoed down the rooms.

Kouga let loose a very incredulous look as he watched where the three dissidents had left. Their own greed had made them betray each other and subsequently bring themselves down. They would never get the power so rumored to be protected by the Highers. And if it were only a rumor…

He sent a veiled and telling look to the miko, who had her eyes wide open in shock and pain before they caught his. She blushed and closed them, looking briefly away before the humor in the situation found her and she giggled lightly.

They watched where the three disappeared from sight and shared more amused and dumbfounded looks amongst each other,each trying to verify if what they saw had indeed been true and that they hadn't dreamed it up and that a demon a human and a spirit had all worked together in their greed that eventually brought them down.

Rather ironic, one would think. The three races had found a way to work together, if only for power, and they had brought each other down because they were all too alike…

There was a silence; it was heavy and almost oppressing, but only so because it revolved around a lack of information and secrets and driving curiosity.

"Geesh, I kind of wanted a fight- that was kinda boring."

Kagome snapped her face up in shocked horror and fury, and Kouga snarled quietly as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He would be the one to explain this. "We of the Highers are rather thankful that there was little blood shed."

The brash warrior that reminded him of dog turd gave them an odd look. "They desecrated your lands and all that's happening is some jail time. Surely you want to exact revenge."

Kouga shook his head with a depreciating chuckle, watching as both redheads placed hands on the toushins arms to still him from charging- he would have been in for a surprise. He may not show off as much now but he was in even better physical shape than he had been with the jewel shards so long ago. He shook his head and placed a hand back on the miko's shoulder, her own two hands coming up to capture his and send him a message through a jolt of her ki. He shivered as it raced through his blood, and he distractedly wondered how long it had taken Kagome to work on her powers enough to separate her purification from the regular ki.

He shook his head and briefly focused on the emotions that were placed so much closer to his awareness through that jolt, always finding it difficult to understand the blurry pictures and vague thoughts they got through this bond they all shared. He grinned slightly with faded blue eyes as he got the very clear notion that Inuyasha had competition for brass.

The warrior seemed to be bristling at being 'ignored' and Kouga snapped his attention to him just as Kagome sent the clear thought that he would have the competition as well. As a result he chocked on his words and turned to face their miko with his ponytail whipping behind him. "HEY!"

She only looked at him innocently before turning to answer Yusuke. "We have seen our fair share of bloodshed and war Yusuke-san." The brunette looked between the two oddly but focused on her words. "And we have found that the easiest way to deal with dealing death is to avoid it at all costs. Everyone somewhere has someone who cares for them- to kill is to incite the call of vengeance and this we do not need."

There was the odd silence that surrounded them as they walked the reikai halls to the portal point, and the three detectives all regarded each other with silent messages and they turned to face forward and spoke nothing. The miko shivered beside him, but before he could do a thing the little firecracker was beside her with his hand on her shoulder.

His nose twitched at the abrupt wind that met it, and he silenced his sneeze as the red eyed demon gave him an amused glance. At least the little upstart was taking care of their miko; he could ream him out later.

.x.

It was hours later, back in the eastern lands, that Kuwabara once again found himself walking into the tail end of a fight, but this time he had only Yusuke for company to the impromptu and unwanted show.

"I too have seen battle! Stop treating me like I know nothing of it!" Lady Souten was once again yelling out her displeasure, but there was something intrinsically different in her voice now.

Shippou seemed to freeze, an expression of anger overcoming his face, anger and some painful disbelief. "You were not at that battle, Souten of the thundering sky." She drew back like she had been slapped, but the oddly hurt expression in her eyes was nothing against the blazing fire in the emeralds that belonged to Lord Shippakouri. "You didn't see the blood let as Inuyasha lost his sight; you didn't see Miroku and Sango despairing over each other's mortality; you didn't see Inuyasha's anguish as he heard the sounds of a continuing battle and found himself useless; you didn't see Kagome quail as she thought she'd lost her son…and you wouldn't understand that she offered mercy after it all."

The silence was heavy once again, and Kuwabara found himself inching away from the quarreling couple. It would seem that something had happened between them earlier…other than the first fight he had witnessed. Yusuke had left, and Kazuma found he wasn't quite as worried over the toushin as he was worried that the mystery surrounding the Highers was deepening and he would find himself drowned. No way out. Closing in on him and suffocating and pressuring him from all sides…

He shook his head and took to the halls, finding companionship in a lone demon kitty with two tails and impossibly cute eyes and a small nose. He grinned as he picked her up, starting her purr with scratches under her chin. She would prove a welcome distraction as he wandered the halls, and he chuckled lightly as he wondered what his teammates would say about him wanting to stop thinking…

The halls did have many pieces of history mounted on the stone walls. He found he liked the many interesting things in the Eastern castle; he could take his time to explore it.

.x.

Yusuke sat down beside her; quietly taking in her melancholy expression as she absently twirled a length of grass between her fingers. Her eyebrows were crinkled together as if she was focused intently on the single blade, but her eyes were, as most times, closed.

"It's a powerful thing to see a mother grieve over the loss of their child."

Yusuke startled slightly, but nodded his head and smiled lightly, feeling himself soften to the miko as he remembered the faint argument he and Kuwabara had walked into earlier. It would seem that he had been a little out of the loop on the happenings, but now he understood something far better than the kitsune would at the moment. "Yeah, mothers shouldn't have to know that kind of pain." He casually stretched, bracing himself on the grass with his hands now settled behind him. "But then again, a mother shouldn't have to worry about her son and face the accusation that she has never done that before."

Her face slowly cleared as it straightened up slightly, and an abrupt chuckle came forth before she smiled. "You do understand this don't you? I suspect that there is a story behind this." She smiled as he spluttered, trying to back out, but then her face turned solemn and pensive and ancient… "I do not ask of you to tell me what you do not wish to share."

And she got up to leave.

And Yusuke found that although his intention had been to somehow comfort the miko he had been the one set at ease.

.x.x.X.x.x.

I realized that I didn't give these villains names- kind of tells you that I only created them to kill them ne? lol. Hmmm, I'm so mean. Anyhoo, is anyone up for a chapter I will call 'Nostalgia' which will have a bunch of random povs from the feudal era and before, that will give you more information before the Reikai tantei discover any more?

Yeah, and review people, I didn't even get six reviews for my last chapter cries!