Chapter 8: A Decision
As Yusuke entered the room, he see's Kurama still asleep and recovery from his wounds. Yusuke went to the radio and turned the volume down and walk to the end of the bed, feeling the same way, frozen from what Shi No Akuma did to Kurama earlier tonight. "I'm sorry Kurama that I wasn't able to save you in time." Yusuke feeling guilty. "I don't get how he was able to take away your powers and yet he kept me and Kuwabara with ours." Yusuke, still not understanding why both he and Kuwabara got spared. "There was nothing you could do to prevent what happened to him." A voice behind Yusuke said, and Yusuke knew who it was. "I take it you saw the whole thing?" Yusuke asked and the voice belong to Koenma, who was in his teenage form. "Still not used to you eye level." Yusuke mocked his former employer. "Still the same old jerk that I gave a second chance too." Koenma annoyed but made a nice jab at Yusuke. "Just trying to lighten the mode." Yusuke said sarcastically.
Koenma stood next to Yusuke and stared at Kurama. "So, what do you know about that bastard that did this to Kurama." Yusuke asked. "Not much sadly." Koenma answered and handed Yusuke a file. "All we know is that his name is Shi No Akuma, and at this moment is responsible for the murder of 6 humans and 6 demons from the peace center as their bodies were found today." As Koenma continued filling in Yusuke on what happened, the former spirit detective looked over of the crime scene photos and despite the disturbing nature of the photos, it didn't seem to bother him. "Did you guys clean the room already?" Yusuke asked. "No, but they want us to hurry up because people are asking questions, and they are worried the room is about to smell worse than it already has." Koenma explained to Yusuke while he looked through the crime scene photos, and the one that caught his eye was the blood writing message left on the ground. "All grieve for the dead is a blessing, but for the traitors and sinners over life are not worthy. Over and under, we shall see who is allowed at the gates to be judged. No one is safe from the impending end of life." Yusuke read that part out loud.
"I'll give the sicko credit; he knows how to get your attention." Yusuke finished reading the file and gave it back to Koenma. "What was it that he said to you in your ear because we were unable to pick it up." Koenma asked. "He said something along the lines of get ready for a choice. Does that ring a bell to you?" Yusuke asked. "No." Koenma said bluntly. "As stated, we don't know who he is but now we only have snippets of him and what he is capable of. As we have just found out just now, he can take away powers and making demons feel mortal. In my opinion, that is a fate worse than death." Koenma went to Kurama's side and looked at him with guilt on his face. "Botan told me that you gave Kurama a part time job as a Spirit Detective; why?" Yusuke asked. Koenma, looking at Yusuke, took a deep breath and told him why. "I didn't want him to become the new Spirit Detective, but Kurama wanted to do it as he felt the cases wouldn't have happened until tonight. He would be not only a part timer but to see if there is any need for Spirit Detectives for the future." Yusuke was shocked by this, not knowing how to feel, Koenma continued. "We were going to keep that from you as I felt things were going to be better with Dad no longer King, the Makai Tournament proving to be a success thanks to you, and slow but steady relations with the demons and humans." The last part Koenma nearly choked as it felt relations between the demons and humans will be shattered.
"Now with that man's power and what he could do. Imagine if he were to share his power to anyone that hates the idea of demons and humans coexisting." He looked at Yusuke, dreading the words that he did not want to say but now there was no choice. "I hate to ask you this but since you are already involved, can you for one last time, become the Spirit Detective and do the unthinkable to him before he makes things worse." Yusuke was stunned by the words that Koenma is asking, his former boss wants him to kill Shi No Akuma, he felt Koenma was taking this personal, but Yusuke would be lying if he wasn't either. "Going after Shi No Akuma would be a great way to come back one last time." Yusuke said as he remembered the conversation he had with himself at his Ramen shop earlier today about this moment in time.
Yusuke thought about it and he knew it was a no brainer to say yes, but he had one problem. "You are asking me to break a promise I made to Keiko that I wouldn't fight again if it cost me my life. And last I checked, I died two times already, along with getting married to her in a few weeks." Yusuke pointing out the issues he had if he said yes to returning as the Spirit Detective, but before he could say another word, he is grabbed by the collar with Koenma mad as hell. "YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR WEDDING THE FATE OF BOTH WORLDS, ALONG WITH EVERYONE YOU LOVE AND CARE FOR IS LESS IMPORTANT?!" Koenma let go, still upset over hearing Yusuke. "REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID HE WILL DO TO KEIKO?!" He added and attempted to punch Yusuke, only for his fist to get caught. "I know what he said! And I'm not going to let him hurt me, my family, friends, and my wife to be. So, Pacifier BITCH! I'm coming back and I will bring him dead or alive and prevent him from hurting anyone else!" Yusuke accepted the return but Koenma didn't respond. "Hey, I said that I would return, why are you silent?" With his free hand, Koenma pointed at the door, and there stood Keiko, who heard the part of Yusuke coming back as a Spirit Detective. "Crap." Yusuke said to himself, knowing he is going to get it.
