AN: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I've been extremely busy and what-not but this fic shall go on! It will not die! Many cookies to FortySeventhLight for continuing editing for me so graciously!

Disclaimer: I still don't own this!


Volunteers

Yusuke ran into the house and inspected each room only to find that every single one had been completely ransacked. Kurama followed at close distance, equally as shocked as Yusuke.

"Yusuke, do you have any idea of what happened here or why someone would do this?" he asked as he picked a few broken picture frames off of the floor.

His companion shook his head in bewilderment. "No, I don't. Keiko wasn't involved in anything dangerous that I know of." Unless, his mind argued, that diary of hers was what someone was after…

Yusuke snapped his fingers as if a light bulb had suddenly clicked on above his head. "I think I might know, Kurama. Earlier when Botan was here, I had been reading Keiko's diary which said something about her knowing too much about something. I don't remember exactly. And come to think of it, I could have sworn I saw the bushes outside her window moving, but there wasn't a breeze blowing."

Kurama swung around to face Yusuke in an instant. "You really think Keiko was murdered, don't you?"

Yusuke nodded his expression grim. "I do. And I'm going to find that diary, and I have a few questions for Takeda."

Yusuke ran toward Keiko's bedroom, hurriedly searching for the last place he had seen her journal. Where did I last lay it? …Yes, it was right there… he looked all around the nightstand where the drawer had been emptied, but he could find no trace that the book was even there. He did however find her Bible and took it with him.

"So you're reading the Bible now, Yusuke?" Kurama asked inquisitively when he noticed Yusuke carrying it under his arm.

Wrinkling his nose a bit in mild disgust, Yusuke gave the redhead his snippy reply. "Don't get your hopes up, Kurama. This is what was next to Keiko's diary. It might hold some answers."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On the other side of town, a single person sat in a darkened room staring and concentrating on a single candle. It burned at a slow and steady pace as evidenced by melting wax running all down its sides. Shadows danced eerily on the walls as if they were beings from another world. The figure began chanting in low, dark tones.

Keiko's diary lay in front of him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next morning, as if nothing had happened the night before, Yusuke walked into the police headquarters hiding behind a mask of calmness, but inside he was in a world of turmoil. No matter how much he searched let alone where he searched, he couldn't find the diary. He had suspicions about various angles of the case, but he couldn't seem to find it.

"Good morning, Yusuke," Takeda greeted. To Yusuke, his manner seemed too cheerful, too eager to see him and made the detective uneasy, though he didn't know exactly why. Takeda continued, "Did you find anything of interest yesterday?"

The young man raised an eyebrow in annoyance and noticed that most of the office staff had suddenly perked up. "If I wanted to tell you, I would have, but in this case, I'm not going to because it's none of your business. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, I want to see the case file."

The police chief nodded and promptly entered the storage room where Yusuke closely followed. Takeda took a manila folder from a shelf marked 'unsolved' and handed it to Yusuke. The older man left the room and motioned for Yusuke to follow.

The raven-haired youth only shook his head. "I'll work here, thank you very much."

For a moment, a look of uncertainty passed over Takeda's face but he masked it with a look of politeness. "As you wish." The door closed and suddenly the room seemed small, cramped, and cold. The light chain swung slowly and a chill ran up Yusuke's spine. It was so confined and eerie, it felt more like a graveyard than a room full of cabinets and case files.

But he didn't waste any time. He sat in a rickety wooden chair and pulled himself up to a table with the same condition. He quickly opened the folders, pulled out the documents and settled down to read.

As the morning progressed, Yusuke discovered that the drunk driver who had supposedly hit the car Keiko was riding in was never apprehended. If he was never apprehended, then why was it labeled the way it was? And why was the case classified as 'unsolved'? The station had tons of cases like this, so why was this a specialty case anyway? What evidence did they have to call this a murder?

As he read, he discovered that a week before she had died, she had come to the police chief saying she needed to talk to him about something but a meeting was never arranged. Also, in almost all drunk driving incidents, the drunk is too impaired to drive any further. With this, the license plate of the car wasn't even spotted, let alone was it tracked further to nab the culprit responsible.

The diary...
Yusuke thought. If that diary had info on who might have done this… that's why it was taken. The only person who knew I was going to Keiko's was Takeda which means there was probably someone eavesdropping on me!'

When Yusuke finished reading the report, he had more questions than answers. Indeed, this was a puzzling case and Yusuke had the mind not to trust anyone except for his friends. He closed the folder and all its contents up, then placed it on the shelf. However, it didn't go in all the way. Yusuke jumped up to see what was blocking it and saw a little package the size of a book. Curious, he picked the package up and tore off the brown wrapping.

It was Keiko's diary.

Yusuke was more puzzled than ever before. As he flipped through the little book, the door to the room swung open with a bang startling Yusuke. Quickly, he slipped the book into his jacket pocket before turning to face Takeda.

"Yusuke," he said, "earlier today someone came by and dropped off Keiko's diary. They said they found it near the road and brought it here in case the owner came buy. Turns out it was Keiko's."

"Already got it covered." Yusuke held the book up for emphasis. "I'm not so stupid and brain dead that I don't notice that the folder won't go back in its place. If you'll excuse me, I'll be going now."

With that, Yusuke jogged past the chief and out of the building. His first thought was to find out how Kurama and Botan were, but decided against it, preferring the shorter way to his own place. When he arrived at his residence, he found a note taped to the door reading,

Yusuke,

Botan, Kuwabara, Yukina, Shizuru and I are meeting at Genkai's home. We strongly suggest you come considering this meeting is about you. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Kurama

"I guess that's that." Yusuke grumbled, crumpling the note and shoving it into his pocket.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At Genkai's shrine in the woods, Shizuru, Kurama, Botan, Kuwabara and Yukina sat in a semi-circle with Genkai standing in front of them wearing a stern expression on her old features.

"Who talked and spilled that I have cancer?" she demanded crossly. "Kuwabara, you were the only one I told so go ahead and tell me where and why you told."

Kuwabara looked down at the ground sheepishly. "Well, since you told me you weren't taking treatment, I thought we could at least pray for you. Don't worry – we're the only ones who know. We decided it best not to tell Yusuke." he explained worried for the only grandmotherly figure he had in his life.

Genkai clocked him hard over the head, infuriated that Kuwabara had broken his promise. "Do something like that again and you'll get worse from me. I don't care if you pray – I don't believe in that, but I'm asking you to keep it to yourself."

The elderly woman silenced herself when they all heard Yusuke running up the shrine stairs. A door slid open roughly and he ran in skidding to a stop. "Okay, so what's the hurry and rush about?" he demanded.

"Sit down, Yusuke." Kurama suggested firmly, indicating what he was saying was more of an order instead of a request.

Yusuke complied but continued to look impatient. "Are you guys going to tell me why we're here or do I have to guess?"

Botan looked around waiting for someone to tell him but decided to do it herself instead. "We're going to help you figure out who killed Keiko," she hurriedly explained letting her bubbly personality get the better of her.

Yusuke raised a curious eyebrow. "What? No, you're not."

Shizuru saw her moment to add her two cents. "Shut up. Obviously your anger over her death is turning you into a retard. You won't accept help from the police, so we're going to back you instead." Shizuru folded her arm into the sling from which her other one hung, trying to add as much emphasis as she possibly could.

"Sis is right," Kuwabara added. "We don't like her being murdered any more than you do, so there's really nothing you can do to stop us."

"We're only doing it because we care," Yukina added softly, her tone indicating that she truly meant what she said.

Yusuke stood and began pacing the room slowly. His expression showed that he was deep in thought, and except for his footsteps, the room remained silent as a tomb as they all waited Yusuke's answer. Finally, he stopped and faced them. "What do you think, Grandma?" he asked Genkai who was leaning against the wall at the back of the room.

"I think they're right. Knowing how you and Keiko were engaged, you're liable to do something outside the law that will result in getting yourself thrown in jail. I'm on their side – I'm going to help you as well." she explained.

Yusuke sighed in defeat knowing he couldn't win against his friends who had obviously ganged up on him. "All right," he said, "but you have to do as I tell you. I'm supposed to be working on this alone, so you guys need to make sure you don't look suspicious. And if none of you have anywhere to go, we're going to begin right here."

Nobody raised up any other excuses to leave the compound, so Yusuke sat down and explained to everyone what he read about that morning, along with some of his personal thoughts on the case. He concluded with how he found the diary, holding it up for them all to see.

"If you ask me," Kurama began thoughtfully his voice low and even, "the police chief knows more than what he's telling."

"How could that be?" Yukina asked. "If he's the leading executive over the case, then why would he withhold information?"

"Easy, Yukina. The chief wants to get involved in the investigation, and the only way he can do that is if he keeps something from Yusuke." Kuwabara piped up and explained.

"What's the diary say, Yusuke? There has to be something in there that would help us." Botan interrupted, hoping to steer the conversation towards something else.

"That's what confuses me," the raven-haired man replied, "is that there seems to be some pages missing. It's probably just me – Takeda did say that someone told him it was near the road when they found it."

"Did it occur to you, Yusuke that someone might have taken some pages out and then tossed it?" Genkai asked, slight annoyance in her old and cracking tone.

"Then why would some of these pages still be in here?" Yusuke shot back. "There are still some pages in here with references to someone or something."

"What are we beating around the bush for, Yusuke? Just get down to it and tell us what we need to find out." Shizuru spoke up, irritated that they were discussing everything except what was on the agenda.

"All right." Yusuke sat down cross-legged and flipped through the diary. "Okay, on this page it says 'I can't believe it. Suzume, a girl in my church, died today. It was the strangest thing, because last week she was as healthy as I am. I didn't even know her well, so I wasn't that sad about it. The police report said it was a drunk driver but something about it seemed… well, strange. No one talked about it and no one investigated it. I'm sure it's only my imagination. I don't know if anything had to do with the fact that she used to have the job I have now plays a role.'" Yusuke looked up at the group to make sure they understood what he just read and he continued on. "Another entry says that found something out so dark - so terrible that she doesn't know if anyone will believe her if she told someone, and the last entry she put said that she was going to tell someone, probably one of us."

Kurama stood and took the diary from Yusuke's hands and began flipping through it himself. "It seems to me that every time she starts talking about something specific, a page is gone. Whoever's doing this wants to be sure we know bits and pieces, but not all of it. They want to entice us and probably trap us. Whatever we do, we need to be cautious." He stopped speaking for a moment and looked carefully at something in the diary. "Yusuke, what's this?"

"What's what?"

Kurama pointed at a page in the book. "What are these letters underlined for? The lines under them aren't that noticeable but they could mean something."

Almost simultaneously, Yukina and Botan extracted the book from Kurama's hand so they could take a look at it themselves, the young man twitching his fingers a bit in an almost humorous sense of sadness for losing the mysterious book. "It's a hidden message!" Botan exclaimed.

Immediately everyone began gathering. Yukina wrinkled her eyebrows and began reading aloud. "Tattoo, wicca sign, left shoulder blade, in too deep, scared, he called, threat, don't know what to do… what does all this mean?" Yukina wondered.

"They're clues, Yukina," Kuwabara spoke up.

"You're pretty smart, little brother," Shizuru muttered before raising her volume somewhat. "I think she's describing the person we're after. It's the only thing that fits and from 'wicca sign,' I'd say this person's into witchcraft."

"Oh, well, we'd better be careful," Yukina whispered, her voice barely audible to everyone else, as if more afraid of this devilish art than those in her troupe.

"I think we have enough to reasonably go on," Yusuke spoke up. "I'd say we plot what we're all going to do before leaving. It's getting late, and I'm sure you all could use some extra sleep before we get the real work started." he said, addressing the darkening sky.

"I'll apply for the secretary job at the station."

All eyes turned to Botan, shocked that she would make an offer like that. "Are you crazy Botan?" Yusuke nearly shouted. "We lost Keiko and some girl before her – we don't need to lose anyone either!"

"God will protect me." she spoke defiantly, placing a sincere hand over her heart, as if to say it was guarded by something greater than any physical being.

"Then why's Keiko dead?" the young man spat back, his eyes narrowed dangerously in protest.

"Calm down, both of you," Kurama said, motioning with his hands for a lower noise. "Genkai's resting." Apparently, none of them had noticed the older lady retire early, clearly requiring rest at an earlier hour than the rest of them, so they did as Kurama asked. Once the quiet returned, Kurama went on. "Botan, honey, I think Yusuke may be right – you shouldn't take the job." the redhead said, not wanting, let alone willing to put his wife in danger.

"Then I will and there's nothing you can do about it." Shizuru's voice said quietly, but firmly.

"No, Shizuru. You're still recovering. I'm going to do it." Botan countered.

"Suit yourself, kid, I'm just telling you to be careful."

Yusuke spoke once more, not wanting to delay anymore. "Okay guys, this is how it's going to be. Kurama, Shizuru and Kuwabara – you still have the jobs you work in the day, correct?" When all three nodded, he continued. "Botan, you want to apply for the job. It's not a bad idea in all honesty, however I won't be there all the time to keep an eye on you. Yukina-" he paused and sighed realizing he didn't know what 'job' to give her – she seemed to fragile to have one.

"I'll pray, Yusuke." her soft voice came as if filling in the missing blank.

He raised his eyebrow in slight annoyance. "If you think that will help, I guess that would be all right. As for Genkai, I can probably get her to help if ever we get to kick some serious a-!" He stopped short when his companions each shot him wary looks, and biting his tongue, he manipulated his original thought and concluded. "A-anyway, nighttime is probably when we'll be having the most action, because we can search under cover of darkness. If there's no oen else has more to add, I'm going on home."

"Wait a minute, Yusuke, shouldn't we pray first?" Kuwabara protested.

His response was a deadly glare from his best friend. "I don't care if you do it or not – just not around me."

And as Yusuke walked down the front set of outdoor stairs, he heard them praying for safety, not only for themselves but also for him and Genkai. 'Genkai?', he thought. 'What's wrong with her, I wonder?' And as he continued to hear them as he walked away, he felt slightly jealous.

And Genkai had indeed turned in, but she lay with her hands behind her head listening to the 'kids', as she called them, pray. While it was true she had turned in because the cancer in her body was making her weak, she didn't want to listen to all the religious talk. Somehow every time the subject came up, she felt a tug in her own heart.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Yukina and Kuwabara arrived back at their home, they noticed a familiar shadowy figure on the roof. "Hiei!" Yukina exclaimed happily, surprised to see him there.

Hiei heard his sister's voice and leaped to the ground to embrace her in a loving hug. "What are you doing here, Hiei?"

"Well, apparently Yusuke sent for Mukuro and me saying he needed our help in some case but as it stands, we're not going to. You can probably tell for us. Unless this case holds a deeper connection for us, then we're going to stay out of it." With that said, he darted off into the woods concealed by the dark shadows of the night.

"That figures. I knew the shrimp wouldn't help us." Kuwabara muttered as he unlocked their home, and meanwhile, Yukina was withholding familiar tears in her eyes. Just as the others each held burdens for Yusuke and Genkai, she too felt a saddening one fall on her shoulders once again for her brother. Deep in her heart, she feared that more harm would come to him than Hiei could imagine, and so she began to pray as she stepped through the door, Kuwabara smiling softly in admiration for his precious wife, then followed her inside.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kurama and Botan went home and wearily fell into the bed from exhaustion. On their way home, they had discussed Botan wanting to get a job at the station and Kurama finally consented. Slowly, they fell into a deep sleep.

"Kurama... Botan," a voice called.

The couple opened there eyes slowly and discovered that they were standing in a vast white space that shown with brilliance. "Where are we?" Kurama asked.

Slowly, a figure appeared before them. "Hello," she said kindly.

"Who are you?" Kurama asked cautiously. Carefully, he pinched himself to see if he was awake and he was assured he was.

"It's all right. You don't need to be afraid. I'm merely an angel sent by God. The task you are about to embark is dangerous – it may cost more lives. But be not afraid. Be strong and of good courage, neither be dismayed for God will be with you wherever you go. I am no longer one of the Earth as you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Kurama and Botan nodded in unison with tears of joy overflowing from their eyes.

Botan rolled over sleepily in her bed and awakened a few moments later. She looked around her, then began shaking her husband.

"Did you just dream what I did, Botan?" he asked, yawning a bit as he spoke.

"Yes, I believe I did. We'll be all right, Kurama, I know it." she replied sweetly.

But her eyes and tone of voice betrayed her words, and instantly Kurama knew something was wrong. Her eyes were distant and her tone of voice seemed far away. "What's wrong, Botan?"

She quickly turned her head away and began gazing at the moon beyond their window. "It's nothing Kurama except I… I…" she broke down and began crying her sobs causing her entire body to shake.

Kurama didn't need or even want an explanation. Instead, he gathered Botan in his arms and allowed her the pleasure of weeping. When the first wave of tears seemed to pass, he buried his nose in her hair and asked concernedly, "It's Keiko isn't it?"

This started a new wave of tears as Botan cried all the more. "Yes, Kurama, I miss her so much. I know we'll see her again one day, but I want her back so badly. She'd be so happy right now."

Kurama stopped stroking her back and looked at her curiously. "What makes you think that?"

Botan withdrew from Kurama's embrace and looked at him. "I… haven't… told… you… yet."

"What Botan? What haven't you told me?"

"Kurama, I'm… I'm… pregnant."

Kurama was left speechless as he had nothing to say.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yusuke walked the long trek to his home from Genkai's, slowly contemplating and trying to figure out just what in the heck had happened to Keiko. Clearly, there was a motive for murder; he just couldn't figure out what it was. There were also people killed before Keiko and in the same manner – just what it was, he couldn't tell.

Because of being deep in thought, Yusuke didn't notice the footsteps trailing him; in fact, he hadn't heard them since they began clear back at Genkai's.

The young man trudged up the stairs to his door and let himself in not thinking to close the door all the way. He went through the motions of getting ready to turn in – he brushed his teeth, took off and put his clothes away, and got a drink of water. But when he sat on his bed, he picked up the diary and stared at it for several seconds. 'What is it you're trying to tell me, Keiko? I know you've written all I need to know – but what is it?'

He opened the little book and began reading it when a shadow crept up behind him. But Yusuke had lifted his head, catching a glimpse of the shadow. and reacted immediately. He turned and struck a blow to the side of the man's face sending him sprawling on his back. But in that moment, the lights went out sending the room into complete darkness.

By the time Yusuke got to the circuit breaker box in the kitchen, the lights had come back on and a cool breeze blew in from the outside. Yusuke closed the door and locked it, then checked all the windows to be sure he was safe.

An accomplice, eh? He thought as he turned back to his room. When he arrived, the masked figure was gone. The window had been opened and the curtains blew gently in the wind. A few beams of moonlight shown through the open window, revealing a symbol on the floor where the figure had been. There was a spray-painted, five-cornered star on the floor with a circle around it.

Yusuke saw it and in an instant, his face turned paler than the moon outside.


AN: Ah-ha! The plot thickens and this is where I'm really going to start having fun! And don't worry, I plan on working the next chap very soon!