Chapter 8: Now What? Act 2

Kurama made his way through the whispering and looks to get to his office. When he opened the door and walked in, he was not surprised to see that the paperwork on his desk had doubled. Getting settled, he was just getting started on the latest stack when Rick knocked on the door.

"Hey, how are you feeling? Bad time to get the flu huh?" He said and had a 'yeah sick my butt' look on his face.

The red head looked up from the folder he had been reading. "I am feeling better, thank you and yes, it was bad timing." He said making sure his voice sounded as tired as he felt and he knew he still looked pale.

"Man you really are sick. Want to go home so your lady friend can take care of you." Rick cooed. "Oh…that's right, I talked to a guy yesterday. He said that he was helping you get better." He smirked.

'Here we go.' Kurama thought and tried not to show his discomfort when he moved in his chair. Even though Genkai had healed his side, it was still tender from the poison and he was just down right sore all over.

"Rough night? Maybe your friend can help you relax." Rick joked, he was definitely trying to get a point across and Kurama was not going to fall for it.

"Rick, if you have a problem with me or with the work I am doing, just tell me. I am not in the mood." Kurama said firmly and went back to reading.

"Man, I just wish I had the life you have." Rick said before walking away with a snicker.

He spent the rest of the day listening to whispered rumors of him being 'gay', and 'bi-sexual', that he must have had one hell of a party and that he was the boss's step-son, so he was getting away with a lot. He knew they were trying to talk so he wouldn't hear, but with his keen hearing, he heard it all.

He was packing up some work to take home when he looked up to see his step-father standing in the door with Rick standing behind him.

"Step-father, what are you doing here?" Kurama said in surprise, yet not, he knew his step-father would hear about him missing work.

"We need to talk Shuiichi." His step-father said turning to look at Rick. "Alone." The man rolled his eyes, walking off. Closing the door, his step-father sat down in a chair facing the desk. The red head sat down his briefcase before sitting back down behind his desk.

"Care to tell me what's been going on with you?" He asked.

Kurama shrugged, saying. "I was sick yesterday…with the flu, but I am better now and will be caught up with work by tomorrow."

"That's fine, but is there a reason you didn't call me or your mother, we had to find out from Rick this morning that you didn't come in yesterday because you were sick. You don't talk to us anymore and your mother is worried sick. And while we're on the subject, I've been told that you are still missing work and coming in late and leaving early…" His step-father berated.

"Step-father, I am sorry. I have had other things to deal with, classes, the seminars and… personal things. I will…" Kurama was interrupted.

"I think maybe I see the problem. I'm the one that needs to apologize. I should have realized that this was too much for you." He held up his hand to stop Shuiichi from interrupting. "Let me finish…you where gone a lot there awhile back and you seemed lost when you returned. Then I just expected you to come in here and train to take over this joint without asking you what you wanted to do. How about you quit for awhile and do the things you want to do and then if you want to come back, you can." The man was studying his step-son, noting how tired he looked.

"Thank you, I will think about it." Kurama whispered.

"Your mother would love for you to come and spend awhile with us and my Shuiichi misses you too." His step-father said, getting up to leave. Kurama stepped around to see him out, when he got a hug.

"I am sorry son…I hope you will talk to your mother when you come to visit." He patted Kurama on the back and was out the door.

The red head went to pick up his personal stuff when Rick came back. "So what did he want?" He asked.

Kurama grabbed his briefcase, saying. "I'm going on hiatus for awhile. You will need to delegate my work and make sure the seminars are cancelled." With that, the red head walked out, not looking back.

The first place he went was to Yusuke's restaurant to have an early dinner. The raven haired was glad to see the fox doing better. Even Keiko gave him a warm smile as she served him his stir-fry.

"So what brings you here so early, I thought you would be neck deep in paperwork." Yusuke said.

Swallowing, Kurama said nonchalantly. "I'm taking a hiatus from work."

Chocolate eyes widened. "Really, don't let diaper boy hear you say that, he'll expect you to show up for all the missions now." Yusuke joked.

"I have been showing up to all the missions, at least for the past several months and it will not be a problem." Kurama growled, taking another bite.

Just then the door opened and Botan walked in. She came over to the counter and sat down with a worried look on her face.

"Hey, what's got you in a pickle?" Yusuke asked

"I'm glad you're here Yusuke." She looked to Kurama. "And you too. The demon Mikai was given his trail and found guilty. He will be serving 20 years in jail."

"That's good…right? I mean I know he has problems, but he did do something wrong."

Yusuke said.

"Yes and 20 years is not a lot of time to a demon." Kurama added.

"But now Sodatsu (1) has made it to the Ningenkai and wants to destroy you all for his brother's arrest and conviction." Botan said. "Koenma wants you all to be on the lookout. He will also let you know if there are any problems with ningens."

"Well how are we to know what this demon looks likes, I mean, come on, doesn't Koenma have a picture of him at least?" Yusuke said, scratching his head.

"They are twins and his name is Sodatsu. Unlike his brother, he does not have mental problems and as you can guess, he is just as deadly."

"Yusuke…maybe we should go to the place where we apprehended Mikai. Sodatsu may be there trying to get clues as to where to find us." Kurama suggested, finishing his meal and getting up.

"Okay, give me a minute to tell Keiko." Yusuke said and walked into the back.

"I'll go tell Kuwabara to meet you there." Botan said, rushing out.

a)a)a)a

By the time the three met up, it was getting dark. Just like with Mikai, they thought Sodatsu might be a night person. They walked several blocks and then back again for an hour with no sign of the demon. They were just getting ready to quit and try another night when Kuwabara sensed him.

"I'm getting that same feeling guys….only this one is different in a way."

"How can it be the same yet different?" Yusuke asked, giving the orange haired a smartass look.

"It's the same aura, but this one's much stronger and more…I don't know 'together' than the other one." The taller man said stopping dead in his tracks with his eyes closed.

Yusuke shut his mouth and was getting worried at the look of seriousness on the man's face.

They didn't have long to wait as a shadow started getting closer, becoming more visible in the street lights. Sure enough, Sodatsu looked just like Mikai and that they even had the same ball cap and the same style of clothes (torn jeans and a shirt) only different colors. The look on the demon's face said he was mad and someone was going to pay.

"Okay Kurama…any ideas on how to stop this guy? I don't think talking to him like we did his brother is going to work." Yusuke asked, planting his feet and standing his ground.

"Agreed." Was all Kurama said as he too stood his ground, waiting to see how this situation was going to play out. He was still feeling weak and was hoping an understanding could be reached, but was ready to fight none the less.

"So you're the three that had my bother arrested." Sodatsu said, walking right up to stand in front of said three. He was a little too close and Yusuke smelled his breath, which was not pretty.

"Hey, haven't you ever heard of personal space, but more importantly haven't you heard of a breath mint?" Yusuke said, taking a hold of all his reflexes so he wouldn't put his hand to his face to wave the air.

"Why you…." Sodatsu growled, losing it as he started throwing punches, hitting nothing as the three dove in three different directions.

"You just had to open your big mouth, didn't you Urameshi?" Kuwabara managed to yell from where he had jumped back into a crouch as he was behind the other two.

Yusuke, having dove and rolled to his left, came up in a low crouch and was getting ready to spring back. "Well…you didn't have to smell his breath." He retorted.

For some reason, even though Yusuke was the one to start the fight. Sodatsu was going after Kurama, who had rolled to his right and was now in a crouch position, reaching in his hair for a rose.

Sodatsu saw Kurama with the rose and started towards him. "You…you were the one that did that thing to Mikai." He hissed.

Kuwabara saw Yusuke ready his spirit gun. "What are you doing?" He asked looking back to see where Kurama was.

"Koenma didn't say anything about us killing him and Kurama's still weak from the attack by the other one, so I'm taking him out." Yusuke informed.

The red head saw past the demon what Yusuke was going to do. He got up and turned just as Yusuke yelled.

"Kurama…look out!" Yusuke yelled, firing his spirit gun blast at the demon that was right behind the red head. Kurama plastered himself to the ground as the blast hit the demon and sent it falling, landing on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

After telling Yusuke for the hundredth time he was alright, Kurama made his way back to his apartment and the surprise that waited.

End chapter 8

1) Sodatsu - meaning 'develop'

So did you realize we were back at the beginning of the story, the first scene?