Part Four: The Fun of Dealing with Angry Multiple Personalities
For what seems like forever, Kazuma just stands there staring at the black-haired man in shock. It is, of all people, Oto who pulls him back into reality by asking, "And who are you?"
"This is Shinobu Sensui. He was once a Spirit Detective like Yusuke," Kuwabara answers dazed.
"Uh huh," the burly demon comments.
Kazuma glares back in his direction. "Look, I am not going to get into a conversation with you right now!" he snaps before turning back to Shinobu. "YOU'RE the one Koenma sent to me?"
"Yes. Itsuki's missing. He's alive…that's all that is known about him."
A slight shiver runs through the carrot-top. "How long has he been missing?"
"Ten thousand years," Shinobu says softly.
Kuwabara closes his eyes. "Come in and try not to summon Kazuya," he says quietly before stepping aside and allowing him entry into the room, "Also, be careful how you speak. Ani's in the bed and I don't want you to frighten him."
"Frighten him?" Shinobu asks looking confused.
"Ani has spent the last ten thousand years being treated like a slave. He doesn't even know who he is anymore," Kuwabara clarifies.
Shinobu stares at him for a moment and Kuwabara knows the wheels are turning in his mind. "You don't think…"
"I'm trying not to," Kuwabara says quickly cutting him off before he finishes the sentence. He has no desire to hear those words from Shinobu.
"I will kill him if something has happened to Itsuki," the man snarls.
"I know that, please, do NOT let Kazuya out," Kuwabara cautions him. Unfortunately, Kuwabara sees the butterfly mere seconds before he has a gun pointed to his face.
"What the HELL is going on?" he growls threateningly. Kuwabara can only stare at the barrel in terror. "I suggest you answer me quickly, child."
"You'll get no where threatening him," Oto says as he calmly points the gun away from Kuwabara, "so stop snarling and listen!"
Kuwabara takes a deep breath and struggles to calm his pounding heart. Koenma had to bemental to send Shinobu to him. The man was still insane. "Look, I hardly doubt that Itsuki was put in the same boat as Ani. He's probably just lost and wandering aimlessly." He has to fight to keep his tone light so as not to set off the gun-wielder.
"He'd better be alright or else you are going to end up full of holes," the man snarls.
Kuwabara sighs softly. "And here I thought that Oto was the worst person to deal with in a mood...go back and let Shinobu out! I don't have time to deal with your anger management issues! I need someone who is calm who isn't going to upset the frightened demon we already have!"
"Too late for that," Oto says softly. Kuwabara's head snaps up hearing him and he turns to see what Oto is looking at. Ani is peering at them from beneath the blankets and he looks terrified.
Kuwabara steps away from Kazuya hoping that Oto continues to hold him still and walks back over to the bed. He pulls the blankets tightly around the smaller demon before pulling him close. "Calm down, it's alright. You are safe," He whispers, "Kazuya is just worried about his friend...that's all."
For the first time, Ani clings to Kuwabara and presses his head against his chest. The carrot-top's eyes widen in shock and he stares at the shuddering bundle in his arms. "I-It's okay, Ani, you're safe," he whispers gently stroking the male's back.
"Ten thousand years turned him into this?" Shinobu asks.
Oto looks at him for a minute almost startled by the change before answering, "Yes. He doesn't even know who he is anymore."
Shinobu closes his eyes. "Koenma didn't keep tabs on him...did he?"
"No," Oto responds, "No he didn't."
"So it IS possible that this happened to Itsuki?"
"There is always a possibility but paranoia will do you no good."
"If it is revealed that the same fate has befallen my demon companion, Koenma will DIE," Shinobu growls.
"Keep your temper in check," Kuwabara says coldly from the bed, "I don't want him freaking out. Warded or not, he's still dangerous."
Shinobu draws an unsteady breath but pushes his anger aside. "When will we search for him?"
"I'll contact Koenma and see what he knows about Itsuki. Depending on whether or not Ani has let go of me, someone will go with you to find him," Kuwabara answers.
"What do you mean 'depending on whether or not Ani lets go of you'?"
"I mean if he doesn't by the time we get some information, you'll be going with Oto. If he has and he's calm, I'll go with you," Kuwabara clarifies.
"Uh huh...are you sure it would be a good idea to leave him with his brother? The last time...well, he wasn't too happy," Shinobu tells him.
"I would hope that ten thousand years is long enough for Oto to grow up," the carrot-top responds. He doesn't care that Oto is standing in the room and hears his annoyed tone. All he cares about is trying not to startle the trembling mass in his arms. He cannot believe that this is what his once-feared nemesis has been reduced to.
It takes a few hours but Kuwabara finally gets Ani back to sleep and beneath the covers. He then contacts Koenma. "What the HELL were you thinking sending Shinobu to me without a warning?" he hisses.
"You would have gotten hysterical...it wouldn't have helped," Koenma responds.
"You are the most petty person I have ever met...but this is not a conversation that is necessary. What do you know about Itsuki?"
"Umm..." Koenma looks rather guilty.
"Koenma, please tell me that the same people who got Ani did NOT get Itsuki, too."
"After Shinobu's death, he withdrew and his grief had a devastating effect on his abilities. He couldn't protect himself and when they came upon him..." he lets the sentence hang.
Kuwabara doesn't look away from Koenma because he knows if he does, he's going to be fearing for his life. "The same group got Itsuki?"
"Well, you have to understand, Itsuki is a very pretty demon. He'd sell for a lot of money at an auction."
"You bastard," Shinobu snarls, "You could have done something to stop it!"
Koenma doesn't answer Shinobu but Kuwabara can see his unease. "So we are going back to that place again? Fine, but you are so going to answer for this when we find Itsuki...you are going to answer for both of them!" He snaps the compact shut. "Oto, stay with Ani and DO NOT make his condition any worse. Shinobu, let's go and see if we can pick up Itsuki's trail. It could take a few days."
"It doesn't matter," Shinobu hisses, "Let's just find him."
"I wasn't talking to just you. That was also directed at Oto as well," Kuwabara tells him. Shinobu doesn't answer, he merely stalks out of the room. "Take care of him, Oto, and don't leave here unless absolutely necessary."
The burly demon doesn't answer, he just moves to the chair beside the bed and watches his brother sleep. Kuwabara leaves with that image almost engraved into his mind. Even through the demon's dark lenses, his troubled emotions were apparent.
The carrot-top finds Shinobu pacing outside. "It's a long trek back to where we started on Ani's trail," Kuwabara tells him. His companion doesn't answer and he sighs before taking off knowing that the black haired male would follow. 'This gets worse and worse as time goes on,' he thinks, 'I cannot believe that I am going to help save another one of our enemies.'