Chapter 7: Spirit World, the Item and the Anger

By the time they made it back to the Reikai. Kurama had awakened and was now walking beside Hiei, who was behind Kuwabara and Botan, who was behind a very irate Yusuke making his way down the hall.

Yusuke didn't even slow as he made his way to a set of double doors and pushed them open, the doors slamming back and almost falling off their hinges as he walked right up to the desk, shoving a pile of papers aside to reveal the toddler.

"Yusuke." The toddler said, not even fazed by the raven haired boy as he continued to stamp the pile of papers from the other side of the desk. "I see you made it back." He noted and looked up. "Where's Kurama?"

'He has the nerve to ask.' Yusuke thought, but barked. "Listen here diaper bottom, you better have a good enough reason for this item, because Kurama almost lost his life for it." He clenched his hands, making like he was going to hit something or someone.

Koenma's face frowned and his eyes dropped as he took in the news. "Kurama almost died." He muttered, looking back up, he said. "I was not given the details as to how bad he was hurt Yusuke. You only said that he was injured and that Mukuro was helping to heal him." He laid his stamp down and leaned back in his chair to ponder the thought that the former spirit yoko could have died over this item for his father. No one else he ever had on this case died or even came close, well there was Miles.

The demi-god looked up, making eye contact with Kurama and asked. "Are you okay?" The question was made with a lot of concern coming from such a childish voice.

"Yes." Kurama said passing the others to make his way towards the desk and cutting off Yusuke, making him step back.

Koenma got on his desk and walked across to stand almost eye to eye with the red head. He was studying him, trying to see if he was still hurt and if there were any injuries he could see.

Kurama noticed and said. "I assure you. I am fine. I have brought the item King Enma wishes to have back and I would like to present it to you now." He then shocked everyone in the room as he got down on one knee, extending his right hand that now held the velvet pouch Yusuke had seen him take from the cave, the red head continued. "I wish to explain again that I did not steal this item and I had no idea of its importance to Enma. Had I known, I would have returned it immediately after it came into my possession." He waited until the pouch was taken before standing back up.

Koenma was honored at Kurama's honesty. "Thank you Kurama. I will make sure father gets this and pass on that information." He said softly, taking the pouch and opening it to peek inside to make sure it was indeed 'THE' item that was needed to make his father happy.

"Okay Koenma." Yusuke broke in. "Are you going to tell us what we risked our neck for now?" He was still trying to recover from seeing Kurama bowed down in front of the Lord.

Koenma answered. "This item was part of a set. It was a key piece in a game that my father was playing with the thunder God Zeus." He looked to the raven haired. "I'm sure you've heard of him correct?" He received a nod. "This game has been going on for two hundred years and can not be finished without this piece. As I told you at the beginning of the case, I have had many people working to find it, to no avail." He finally took the item out, holding it in his hand then up above his head so the rest could see it.

In a flash, Hiei was now holding it and looking to see what it was before anyone else saw it.

Kuwabara looked over his shoulder. "Is that a piece to a chess set?" He questioned. "Sure looks like it."

Yusuke and Botan moved, one on either side. Sure enough, held in the hand of the koorime was a chess piece, the knight to be precise. It was made of gold and had emeralds for the eyes and was mounted on a green emerald base.

Everyone's anger was immediate, even Botan's, who had heard the whole story of Kurama and the bat from Kuwabara on their way to the office.

Yusuke was the first to speak up though. "You mean to tell me that Kurama almost got killed over some stupid piece from some stupid chess set!"

Kurama was as calm as ever when he said. "Yusuke, it was my fault that I got attacked. I did not realize Komori would still be there, it has been over a hundred years, including my human ones, since I have even been back to that cave. I should have been more cautious but, thanks to you all, I was able to return the item. I had no idea at the time who it belong to until Koenma asked me if I could help locate an item and he showed me a picture of the whole chest set, minus the knight on the green side of course. That is when I felt obligated to go and retrieve it. I should not have gone on my own, though I felt it was an easy mission since I knew the location of the piece." He tried to explain.

"Well." Botan said breaking the tension as she gently took the item out of the fire demon's hand and handed it back to Koenma. "This has been a long day. You all should be heading back to Ningenkai and getting your rest before Koenma gives you another case." The tension in the room that had gotten so thick you wouldn't have been able to cut it with a chain saw if it got any thicker.

"Yeah okay." Yusuke broke. "I'm sure Kurama's more tired then rest of us though." He gave a nod to the red head then turned to face the Lord. "I'm going to let this slip for now toddler breath, but believe me, I'm not going to let you forget the next time you make Kurama or Hiei go on another solo mission."

They all started walking out of the office, making their way to a portal that would take them home. Botan had stayed behind to go with Koenma as he went to deliver the chess piece to his father.

"Hey Kurama." Kuwabara was the first to speak as they exited the portal. "Who was that Komori fellow anyways, how did you know him?" He asked.

Knowing the question was going to be asked sooner or later, the red head answered. "It was a mistake on my part to let him live. What he said about me killing anyone on my territory was correct, but I saw something in him that made me change the way I dealt with trespassers and I started teaching him the same thing, though I think he lost that over the years I was gone." What he said didn't really make since to the others, but they let it drop as they headed out of the park.

"Well, you'll just have to tell us the whole story sometime, for now though I need my beauty sleep. See yeah." With that, Yusuke slapped the red head on the back and walked away towards his house with Kuwabara on his heels.

Kurama looked to Hiei who was standing beside him. "Want to come to my place, we won't have to worry about mother seeing you, so you could use the front door if you wish." He asked the fire demon with a smile on his lips. "We could talk about the things that need to be talked about." He said with a glint in his green eyes.

Hiei was a little confused at first by the expression the fox was giving, then his eyes shot up in understanding.

"Hn." Was all he said as they walked out of the park.

End Chapter 7

Kishi – meaning - Knight