Koenma smiled brilliantly, hands clasping in an expectant and pleased gesture in front of him before he settled and regarded them. There was the evidence of extended pacing in the dirt, worn down and packed amidst stray tufts of grass and angry footprints. "So, anything you have to inform me of?"

"Koenma-sama…" The honorific was thrown in to ease the answer out, Kurama was only to aware of the prince's need for recognition and from anyone else on the team this tactic would raise suspicions.

Kurama had listened to the Highers, and he had heard the possibilities…this was not simply a people that irked the reikai on occasion and controlled certain outbreaks and protected their meager land holds with their ever vast political weight. Kurama had seen the opportunity of that secret, had a taste of it in his mouth and a wisp of it encircling his soul.

The court had left at intervals in the story, and it had been accepted on a level that told of respect and acknowledgement. Those that had left hadn't wanted to hear the rest of the vague telling because they wanted to keep the story a secret, wanted to keep the secret a treasure, and he supposed those were people that had made the choice and actually stayed to guard without any superior knowledge.

But Kurama wanted to know the tale, anything as deep seated and cared for as this…Youko agreed that it would be well worth it to receive these kinds of allies and tutors and friends.

The fact that Hiei was calmly staring out into the silence of the gardens they had left let him know what his choice was, if there had been any doubt before due to his original involvement with the group. And the very fact that Hiei had found refuge with these powerful and knowledgeable people stirred some part of him that had been repressed and forgotten.

They wouldn't turn him…them…Kurama away.

The more base part of him that was Youko and wasn't Youko offered up a ghost tendril of the spirit in him to squeeze it around his wrist, a sign of trust and acceptance among them that needn't be voiced.

He had never really expressed his fear that, should anyone other than his teammates find out about his certain peculiarities, he would be rejected. It had become a subject neither he nor Youko would draw up and respectfully avoided to the point bordering on ridiculous. He guessed he had the taste of loneliness due to the actions of others before his death…now he was forcing it upon himself so he wouldn't feel so oddly responsible.

Avoiding friends and relationships had become habit for him in the ningenkai, although he was kitsune by nature and craved touch and comfort and excitement and mystery…

And as he pondered this and watched Koenma he found that it wouldn't prove difficult to switch his allegiance. He hoped the others would understand.

He looked into the calculating eyes of Yusuke, knowing that he was reserving judgment, caught the thoughtful and distracted face of Kuwabara, certain that he was working out all that he knew on his own and coming to a decision that would benefit him and maintain his morals, and he found he didn't have to worry so much.

They were a team.

Even if they split up they would always have each other in their blood- a little misfit family.

Kurama hid a smirk with a respectful tilt of his head to the demigod and continued… "We would like to know why you are so adamant about these demons. From what we have been able to learn they pose no threat." Youko purred out happily, a stray comment about his misdirection… 'I knew it. You little con-artist you, that was the perfect amount of inflection on the tidbit of our failure in retrieving anything important. Sometimes you make me so proud…'

Kurama really had to work to hide the next smirk, and then became aware of the amused crimson eyes of his long time comrade and smiled innocently in response.

Koenma muttered something before he perked up, eyeing them with some speculation before a greedy and cunning gleam light his eye and he smirked around his binky. "If you guys joined the Highers Court, do you think that you would have more access to their scrolls and tomes?"

Kurama found he was disgusted by the curious and enthusiastic gleam as much as he himself was curious. Youko and he wanted the uncover the tales and the histories for the simple and well thought secret, the thrill of discovering something and being trusted with it enough that lives were under your protection.

"Koenma-sama…?" Kurama let his voice trail off with honest confusion but no little fabrication of innocence. He often found it ridiculous that Koenma trusted him most out of his gathered team of misfits…he was one who had known manipulation and evasion and thievery most his last life and this…if anything he should have been watched more.

His eyes flashed with Youko's influence and Kurama briefly thought that Koenma might think him under their control due to his attachment to his human mother…but he pushed it aside as Koenma got his hint and moved to answer.

The spirit prince sighed and mopped hand down his face. "You must understand that Reikai was never present at the beginning of time like so many think. Originally all the races and spirits lived in harmony and then there was some type of natural disaster that incited panic in the races and they all looked for another to blame…and then the great vendetta was started."

Kurama felt Youko stir uneasily in his mind, aware that on some level this was never before told to any other race than the ruling spirits and the more informed denizens of the spirit world.

Koenma started to pace in front of them, crossing the path he had already worn into the dust and shook his head out in frustration and sucked on his binky with fervor. "It must have been over eight centuries of such turmoil before we were approached by a woman who later founded the Court."

Kurama watched the child ruler warily, the words of the Court still rushing through his head and the excited babbling of Youko not helping at all in his concentration. Koenma looked like he was not in the best of moods, his hands were constantly waving about, angrily and tightly, as if he couldn't find the complete control over his rage but was still trying none the less. His teenage form was frazzled and unkempt, evidence of his hands in his hair and constant movement with the creases of his clothes.

The Prince stopped, eyes sharp as he turned to them and mouth frowning over his binky as he sucked on it furiously. His eyebrows were lowered heavily over his flashing eyes and though the child ruler was doing a pretty good job of displaying his ire Kurama could find no respect or deference within himself.

The Highers displayed it so much more effectively.

He shook his head and went back to his pacing. "We were ready for any solution to the turmoil, and she approached with a scroll that had the answer to all our problems if we could work with her."

He sighed and then an infuriated glint passed over his normally childish features, making him look much like the old spirit prince he was supposed to be. "I have heard tales of how she manipulated the old spirits of then, that a fine print was so subtle they would have never noticed it…and reikai was doubly so in her debt." He bit off with a vague curse, something Kurama's eyes widened at because their 'boss' was usually panicked and irate but never had he cursed.

In the safe ensconce of their mind Youko grinned predatorily. 'A woman like that must have been a con artist…and since that Onigumo man talked of her actually convincing a forest demon to step forth I have no doubt that Kagome could have done this…Do you really think she is that old?' Kurama had to work to retain the faint snort of laughter in his throat, easily picturing Youko's honestly curious expression as the idea of a much older looking Kagome waved a cane at them.

Youko had no such restrictions and laughed as he jokingly ran around the decrepit figure they had conjured in their imagination.

Koenma gave Kurama a glance, and the red head checked to make sure his whole body language whispered innocent in a subtle way so not to draw attention. He supposed that made him just as good as any to reveal their intentions. Or, Youko interrupted with a rather predatory grin, to manipulate the prince enough that we have free reign to act on our decisions.

And Kurama grinned as well.

.x.x.x.

Hiei stared out into the courtyard stolidly, listening with half his senses to the toddler's rant about information, finally, and debts. He was only vaguely aware of the kitsune's intently focused gaze on the prince, waiting for the moment where he could manipulate the situation to the benefit of the team. Kurama was like that, and with the single minded way the red head was focused on the conversation Hiei knew that the fox had made his choice…

He had made his choice and it was not in favor of the prince or reikai.

Hiei was intimately aware with his own decision, knowing on some level that he didn't even need to listen to the prince to make it. He had been a comrade of the Highers due to Kagome for some years now, and she had expressed an interest in reinforcing the barrier around Genkai's shrine so she could meet his sister.

He still had no idea how she had gotten that piece of information out of him, but he understood that she had the best of intentions and would actually do as she said without interrupting his sister's serene solitude.

He hadn't just found a sanctuary for himself in Kagome, and subsequently the wary company of the other Highers and Court. He had found sparring partners, demons that had lived long enough to intelligently help him while knowing how to spare his pride for they had their own to deal with. Demons surrounded him and provided company and knowledge of the old ways and teachings that helped him.

He had also found someone who would do everything in her power to help him secure his sister's future.

He could clearly remember the day one of Kagome's youkai had come to Genkai's shrine to investigate and he had attacked in defense of his sister. Only to be beaten rather thoroughly and taken to the Higher Lords themselves. But Kagome had been present that day and felt something in his soul, accepted him after an explanation on both sides…

And then he had been hers.

It ahd helped immensely that he had found her in the ningenkai, in the vague happenstance of her brother beinga ttacked by some random mixed breed thugs and him sensing her aura on the young Souta, and he had been apart of that family ever since.

She was his unconditional friend and quiet companion. She had gifted him with the makai refuge of her lands and her allies and the ningenkai home of her shrine and family.

And despite this, despite knowing that Kagome accepted him, and the others were becoming more accepting because of this…he had missed his team.

Hiei discreetly rolled his eyes as he heard one particularly screechy exclamation from the prince and reflected on the fact that his team had become so much more to him than any other stranger in such a short period of time.

And Hiei smiled as he returned his focus to the gardens outside the window near him; Kagome had understood that.

And if Hiei knew he felt this close kinship, the others felt it as well.

They would stick together.

He nodded curtly to his thoughts and spun to lean against the window sill and actually watch the proceedings.

Now they didn't matter, he could watch secure in the knowledge that he wouldn't' be watching his friends fall apart.

And Hiei tilted his head to shadow the dark glint in his eyes as he did just that.

.x.x.x.

Kuwabara shifted, already aware of the decision he wanted to make and trying to hurry things up with Koenma discreetly even though he knew it was never his strong point. He wanted to go and talk to the old blacksmith again, and maybe enjoy the company of that large neko. He had been told many things, and when he thought about it there were even more things he wanted to learn.

With the diversity of people he had seen among the Court he was sure that they would be able to help him if he offered his assistance in times of trouble. And with what Jin had been speaking of Kuwabara knew that he could continue on with a much more regular ningen life if he found himself under their jurisdiction. Jin still was able to chase his dreams, if anything he knew about the wind demon was true.

And Kuwabara had the feeling that any of his questions would be answered if he made that choice. He could be supported in his life and his future if he so needed it and he knew that the training under the Highers would be tough but beneficial.

They could help him…

…So many things. He could finally get a good job and help his sister in the house; he could go to a nice college and then make his sister proud. And he could always be near his friends…if they took the same choice.

Kuwabara allowed himself a brief worried glance at his team mates, hoping beyond all he knew that they too would make that choice. The future just really wouldn't be so fun without them in it.

Kuwabara remembered being a lonely little street punk, having his friends only later in life when he had learned from his sister the importance of sticking up for oneself and giving back as good as you got.

Things were like that in his house. He had grown up in a rough neighborhood, attended a rough and tumble school, felt the hard knocks of being an orphan and he had emerged stronger because of it.

But he never wanted to be that lonely and frightened again.

But as Kuwabara looked about him, noticing Kurama's intense look of calculation (which made him sigh since he really had no clue how to steer this conversation to his benefit), noticed Yusuke's ever growing stance of nonchalance and irritation (which he almost laughed at because that was just like his friend), and noticed the dark look of glee that Hiei wore as he watched this all too.

Kuwabara really did chuckle, but it was overlooked because he was prone to doing such things when his attention was, as usual, diverted form the more pressing matters.

He grinned.

That was because Kurama usually took care of the 'more pressing matters' when they were so boring and intricate.

He took a deep breath and regained his focus, calm now that he understood his decision and feeling confident in the decision of his team.

"Reikai was started due to the scroll given to enforce a treaty between the spirits that held enough power to create the worlds with help…and the beginnings of the Court." Koenma paused, a thoughtful expression crossing the teenage illusion of his face before he gave them all a vague searching glance. "Every once in a while they come up with some treaty that renews our alliance and keeps it relevant to the current times... and keeps us out of their hair."

Koenma growled this out like it was his right to know everything about every citizen of the three worlds, and Kuwabara leaned back and looked down at the far shorter male pacing once again.

Since he had never really had a debt with reikai but only a duty to his town and his friends he felt it time to move on. And the base actions of reikai and the prince were more than enough incentive for him to move away from the reikai connections he had established.

And he wouldn't be moving on alone.

.x.x.x.

Yusuke leaned back on his hands, staring blankly at the toddler and wondering exactly what was going to happen. Yeah the toddler was angry and he was technically their boss…but they had taken a vow to the Highers and no boss of debts would pull the information he wanted from their teeth. And the only thing he saw right now was a whining little baby looking for his father's approval by bending his words and treaties.

And if Yusuke knew one thing it was that a man never went back on his word.

"So…"

"So what?" Yusuke callously asked as he put his hands behind his head and gazed distractedly out at the clouds. Koenma bristled slightly, his eyes flashing and his form shifting into an unconscious dominating position to possibly cow them into whatever submission he had wanted from them in the start.

Yusuke wasn't one to bow down to anything…indeed he found it fun to push the buttons of the diminutive ruler and cause him endless ire. That the safe haven the Highers had provided eased his soul was a little side product of pissing his boss off was a great incentive in itself.

He had been at ease resting in their gardens; he was sitting still and enjoying himself. He could train with them (and here Yusuke grinned manically because he was raring to go and challenge that black wolf and the silver hanyou again) and become stronger and still be able to relax with much stronger opponents around that were guarding him. He was sure Keiko would enjoy the shrine…when it was restored to its former glory.

He could stay with his freakish team with the highers, because they themselves were a bunch of freaks that should never have bonded like they had. Demons, hanyou, miko…Yusuke snorted and turned to the fuming boss.

But he was cut off before he could retort something about his resignation and debt paid off in the dark tournament…and his death.

"We would have to stay more and firm our – loyalties - to them…but since you have us on call it would be difficult to establish any bond to gain any information what so ever." He paused for dramatic effect (and Yusuke noted with a hint of pride that it was very dramatic and convincing), "since you have already strained our relations due to the treaty," here he placed a placating hand in the air to still Koenma's swiftly coming argument. "A treaty that they believed would hold for the rest of time since the beginning of time. They will be suspicious if we suddenly calla truce and act all chummy, and they are quite dangerous to us upon that suspicion."

Yusuke gave Kurama a subtly questioning look, before he caught the fox's equally subtle grin and head tilt to the prince.

Koenma was thinking so hard you could practically see the wheels turning behind his brown eyes.

Yusuke smothered a snicker, glanced once at Hiei, and then once at Kuwabara, felt for one moment they were unarguably in agreement and not regretting it, and turned to watch Koenma as he fell into Kurama's intricately laid trap.

His pacing become more intent, an almost predatory steps that made Yusuke raise an eyebrow in amusement- never having seen his boss like this before and wondering exactly what the Highers stood for to incite such a reaction.

Koenma stopped and snapped his fingers in conclusion to whatever thoughts he could entertain behind that Jr. Tattoo. Yusuke sniffed lazily in response as he slouched and waited for the 'snap' of the trap to echo.

Koenma turned to them with a finality that only came as a little surprise, since Yusuke was really used to the boy prince behaving like so when he finally decided they absolutely had to go on some such mission or other.

He sucked furiously on the binky he still possessed in his teenage form and narrowed his eyes in smug contemplation of them. "I release you all from your debt, but consider it a year of monthly reports before you are completely free."

Yusuke withheld the urge to leap and shout; certain that Koenma had been keeping their bonds only with the thought of their use and not their honest payment for some time before this all happened with the Highers. Yusuke also knew it was a way to keep his eye on them and ensure that they themselves wouldn't cause trouble now due to their awareness.

"Since this is dangerous I cut off all other ties to you except for your reports, which only one of you has to do to avoid further suspicion." He smiled around his binky, and Yusuke had the pondering thought that maybe even KoEnma was keeping track of them for his ever paranoid father.

Kurama made a soft sound of surprise, and Kuwabara staggered in a suitably gob smacked way as Hiei smirked. Koenma looked them over with a disgustingly pleased glow to his eyes and nodded curtly, pompously and arrogantly, before he spun with a flap of his royal robes and vanished down the halls.

They were left blinking after him with bemused and irritated expression in varying degrees, before Kurama broke them out of it with a musing voice. "I had only really expected him to take us off all other obligations…"

And Yusuke started laughing.

It was a hearty laugh when Kuwabara joined in, and Kurama's smooth and cultured chuckles even added some depth to their mirth. Hiei's snicker of amusement filled the harmony, and Yusuke let himself fall back to lean against a wall as their mirth rang down the halls, chasing a path their previous boss had left on and was never to be seen again.

Kurama's joyful voice brought out another point with his ever logical address; "And if only one of us has to update every month, we can create even more confusion without punishment." Gotta love a fox…

It was times like these…when Yusuke really didn't mind being one of the freaks of the SD. Kurama and Hiei and Kuwabara and him…they were a great team, freaks or not.

But now it was time to visit the Highers, and it was time to get some answers from the weirdoes of this dimension so they knew exactly what they were holding over their ex-boss' head. And Yusuke had a very good feeling about working in another team just as unorthodox as his previous one was.

Koenma won't know what hit him.

.x.X.x.

.x.x.x.X.x.x.x.

.x.x.x.xX. Kage's Korner .X.x.x.x.x.x.

I'm sorry this took so long, but I had trouble at home and then this wasn't' going the way I wanted. So because I was frustrated I struggled stubbornly with the story and finally gave up and let it take me where it did. scratches head I'm not sure if this is okay but I'm posting it anyway. As you can see we've finally resolved our differences even if there are hurt feelings on both sides, I have been given free reign over the flashbacks so sticks tongue out at Story HAH! I will be able to reveal more plot and history on the next chapter…and since it is spring break and I have gotten over our little squabble (with the help of the flashback incentive) I hope to finish this story this week…err….really hope. Don't hate me if it doesn't happen.

P.S. if anyone would like to help me with Jin's speech from previous chapters I would greatly appreciate it, after realizing that I don't like it since I have a Canadian accent and absolutely no clue other than the British and Australian lilt of speech. So if someone could write out his quotes with the proper accents I would mucho appreciate it and give you awesome huggles with credit! (yes that is to you Kage Youkai!)

PPSS...sorry for mistakes U--