Chapter 5: Now What? Act 1

Whether Yusuke talked to Koenma or not, Kurama didn't know. He still had to go on missions. At least over the next several months it was down to only two or three times a month. Koenma had informed them that the new laws and rules were going into affect everyday and that the crossing over of demons wanting to do harm were being monitor better.

That was all well and good on that end, but work for the red head was getting worse by the day. The more responsibilities he was getting, the harder it was to come up with an excuse to go on a mission. He was now expected to go on short business trip to promote the company and was also giving seminars at night, on nights opposite of when he was taking a class. His step-father said he should be ready within the year to take over the business full time. He knew how many hours Rick was putting in each day and was glad he was not married. Rick's wife was always complaining about her husband never being home and being married to the company. The red head had to admit the work kept his mind off Hiei but only when he was at work. When he was alone or on a difficult mission, he thought about the fire demon constantly. He felt constantly alone and was drowning himself in misery. He didn't see Yusuke much, outside of missions of course.

Yusuke's restaurant was doing quite well, he himself has only made it a few times to eat there and that was taking someone with him for lunch. Keiko was getting mad at Yusuke enough as it was with the way he was always running off and leaving her with the work. He had never been close to Kuwabara, yes they had talked personally many times, but now the big guy was busy with studies and of course Yukina. Then there was Genkai who he hadn't seen in awhile because he was always getting home late and just wanted to go to bed. His weekends were filled with getting upcoming paperwork ready for a trip or seminar and he usually worked on those while visiting his family. He talked a lot with his step-father, but it was work related. He had been asked several times though, if there was anything bothering him, which he always said 'no'.

It was just a typical morning and Kurama was sitting at his desk doing mounds of paperwork. Sometimes he had to laugh when he came into work because the desk would remind him of Koenma's, which was always piled high. He had been working for several hours, reclined back in his chair, away from the desk, holding a folder on his leg that was crossed at the knee. He was lost in thought, not even realizing he was rubbing his temple with his free hand, when he heard a knock on his office door. Looking up, he saw his new secretary standing at the always opened door and standing beside her with her hands held together in front was Botan.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Mr. Minamino, but this lady says it's important. I told her she needed to make an appointment, but she said that if you saw her you would want to see her." Becca informed, looking a little frighten at having to disturb her new boss. She wanted nothing more then to please this handsome young man.

"Thank you Becca, you did the right thing. I do need to see her." Kurama said calmly getting up and walking around his desk to the door. He saw Becca out and thanked her again before closing the door. He had several windows that looked out to the rest of the offices, but the vertical blinds were down, not closed, he left them that way.

"Hello Botan…I see that making it to the Reikai office and going on missions is not enough for the Great Lord Koenma…he has to disturb me at work now too." He said keeping his voice calm, but was very much getting it across that he did not like this unexpected visit.

"I'm sorry Kurama. I didn't want to come, but Koenma thought you would want to know this information as soon as possible. He didn't want to have to wait for you to come to the office or go on another mission without knowing. I have to agree after I found out, so here I am and….." Botan was getting in one of her rambling modes.

"Just tell me then." Kurama growled and went back to sit down at his desk. He thought about picking up where he'd left off on his work and letting her ramble on about what this so called 'important' information was so she could leave. But the first thing she said got him glued to every word she was saying.

"We have a problem with the two demons you apprehended the other day. Koenma was giving them a plea bargain in exchange for information about future invasions and they spilled their guts about something." She started then waited to see if the red head was listening, getting a nod to continue, she did. "They work for Yomi." This made green eyes go wider. "They said they were not here to cause any problems, but as you know they were seen by some ningens and Koenma felt they needed to be contained so he could find out what they wanted. To make this short…they were here to watch you."

"Watch me?" Kurama wondered aloud, why in the world would Yomi want to watch him?

Botan nodded. "They said something about making sure you're safe and that nothing happen to you because you were to return to Makai in the future. Koenma wanted to know if you knew about this and what it means." She said looking at him in hopes that he had an answer.

"Damn him, I said no." Kurama said under his breath and through clenched teeth.

"So you do know?" She gasped.

Kurama looked at her and gave a firm nod. "Yes, and you can tell Koenma I will take care of it myself." He said.

"Is it something I should inform him about and do you need the others?" She asked, hoping Koenma wasn't going to yell at her because she was not going to make Kurama come to the office immediately like he wanted.

The red head shook his head. "No on both, just tell Koenma that I will take care of it and that he needs to trust me…and not believe anything those two say." He informed.

"Okay Kurama, I trust you." Botan said and went to leave.

Kurama got up to see her out, but when he opened the door and said goodbye, he noticed all his co-workers staring and whispering. Ignoring them, he went back to work. Apparently the rumor mill was starting because he had only been working a few minutes when Rick stopped by the office. "She's pretty and I can see why you're hours are hectic." If my wife was that pretty, I'd want to be home all the time too." He smirked.

Kurama didn't know if Rick was teasing or not. He took it as not. "She is a friend, nothing more. And if you must know, she was giving me information about my class tonight." He said it cold and firm. It was the only excuse he could come up with, wondering why he even made one. They could believe what they want, for it was going to happen anyways.

Rick rolled his eyes. "Yeah right…I'll take a class with her any night." With that, he walked off. Kurama could see outside the office that his co-workers, who were within earshot of his door, were quietly laughing.

Getting up, he said. "Get back to work." And closed the door. After all, he was going to be their new boss soon, so he might as well get a head start in giving orders.

a)a)a)a

A few days later at work, Kurama was again sitting at his desk, when his secretary came in and said there was a message for him. 'He was to meet at the office after work'. Becca didn't know what these messages met even though she had received the same message many times since working for him. He never told her what the messages meant, just always said 'thank you' with a warm smile on his face.

Like the many messages before, after work, the red head found himself in Koenma's office being briefed on yet another mission. He was sitting in a chair to Yusuke's right, who had his chair rocking back on two legs and his hands behind his head. To Yusuke's left was Kuwabara, who in turn had his chair turned around straddling it. He sat that way every time he visited that the chair stays that way even when he's not in it. Yusuke had wondered if the cleaning crew got tired of turning it around and just decided to leave it.

Koenma, in is toddler form, sat behind his desk in front of the three tanteis shuffling paper and finally found the one he was looking for. "Yes here we go." He started, eyes scanning over the paper. "We have a dozy of a one this time. He's an 'A' class demon who just barged his way through a portal. It also says he has a mental problem and has been known for violence." He informed.

"Geez Kurama, you never told us demons could have mental problems…don't you all have anything like 'Prozac' there?" Yusuke huffed letting his chair and hands down as he turned to look at the red head.

"First of all Yusuke, 'Prozac' in given only to people with depression and second, we have been known to have mental illnesses just like ningens. I once knew a demon with multiple personalities." Kurama said.

"Really…what were they like…pretending to be different creatures or something?" Kuwabara asked.

"No, but it was quite strange….." Kurama began, but was interrupted by Koenma.

"I'm sure that it's an interesting story Kurama, but we need to get back to this mission." He waited for Kurama to turn his head towards him before continuing. "This demon goes by the name Mikai (1). He's not causing any big trouble yet but he has been seen on the east side scaring ningens and reeking havoc on the neighborhood by stealing and mugging, especially store owners, so he needs to be contained. Here's a picture." Koenma passed a photo to Yusuke. Kuwabara lend over to look before he handed to Kurama. "As you can see, he kind of looks like a ningen, except for the horns, he's been seen wearing a cap and is only out at night, he could blend in easily."

"I don't get it…how can a demon that has a mental problem be an 'A' class?" Yusuke asked, wondering if they were being told everything there was about this demon.

"We don't have anything else on him. He has never shown trouble in the Ningenkai before and the information we have is only recent and that is only because of the border patrol that tried to stop him." Koenma informed, giving an innocent look.

"Let's go see what's cookin' in the kitchen guys." Yusuke sighed, getting up to lead the other two to the doors when Koenma spoke up.

"Kurama…I hope you got that little problem taken care of and you're not even thinking about doing the other thing either, are you?"

The red haired had turned when his name was called and upon hearing the question he said coldly. "Why Koenma, if I did not know better, I would say you do not trust me."

"Just answer the question."

"Yes and No." Kurama said then walked out the door first, leaving the other two dumbfounded and then running to catch up.

End Chapter 5

(1) Mikai – meaning - underdeveloped