Chapter 1

Genkai could not remember a time her house had been so quiet; even the birds and bugs didn't add a hum to the background. By the time Kuwabara and Kurama arrived, the group was already standing in a semi circle facing Koenma. That is, with the exception of Hiei, who leaned stoically against the wall, allowing everyone to know he did not wish to be associated with such a group.

Koenma nodded solemly. "Now that everybody's here, we can begin. As some of you have notice, Yukina has been missing for several weeks. She has not appeared in the Spirit Realm, so I can assure you all that she is alive."

Kurama allowed himself a glance at Hiei. If he was surprised or upset, the fire demon showed no sign. Kuwabara on the other hand…

Koenma continued. "This disappearance has oddly corresponded with the finished construction of the S.O.K. building in Yusuke's neighborhood."

Yusuke finally spoke. "So why would that freakin' matter? And what the hell is the S.O.K.?"

Botan piped in, "Yes, and why have I never been told of it? Them?"

Hiei snorted and shoved his hands into his pockets. All eyes turned to him, expecting an explanation. Not receiving one, Koenma, once again, took the floor. Producing an overhead projector from somewhere in the folds of his cape, Koenma cleared his throat. "Allow me." The first image appeared on the wall- the spirit prince and Jorge at the beach. Koenma was pouting over a more-than-destroyed sand castle as Jorge was pulling his foot out of it.

This was too much for Kuwabara. "Are you even taking this seriously? My love is out there, alone and without me, and you're showing us pictures of summer break?"

Koemna was genuinely confused. "Huh? …OH!" Sweat specked the prince's face as he tried to change the picture.

A blue-haired demon sat as still as possible. Yukina attempted to swallow the lump in her throat that had made itself a permanent symptom. Keep calm, she told herself, just keep calm. Not allowing herself to look up at her surroundings, she imagined being rescued for the millionth time that day. Kuwabara would slam open the doors dramatically; Kurama would use vines to hold her captures, Yusuke would blast through her cell, and Hiei would practically fly her to safety. Yes, yes. It will happen any minute now.

An aging man in a white lab coat looked through the bars of Yukina's small cell. "Dr. Camden, subject D-74 is smiling again." He jotted down something on a clipboard and continued down the line of cages.

"There!" announced Koenma triumphantly as a black and white image of a balding man in thick glasses appeared on the wall. "Let us begin. The S.O.K., or the Seekers of Knowledge, were founded by this man, Dr. Camden, about a decade ago."

"Looks like a loser to me," Yusuke scoffed.

The image changed to a lethargic demon, some cross between a man and a fish, strapped to a lab table. Yusuke's eyes widened and, surprisingly, he became quiet. "As I was saying," Koenma continued, "this group is dangerous in that greed and power do not drive them. They are only interested in the progression of science. All morals and consequences are below them."

The image changed again. This time a world map, speckled with many red dots and several blue ones. "Needless to say, the spirit world has been trying to shut them down for some time." At this, Koemna shut his eyes briefly, gnawing on his pacifier. "The red dots show known headquarters and labs… the blue dots are ones we have shut down. This one," Koenma pointed to a red dot in Japan, "is the building that was just constructed. I am 90% sure that Yukina is being held in that building."

The room exploded. Kuwabara was shouting incoherently, waving his arms, and crying all at once. Yusuke and Genkai had begun arguing. Yusuke was going on about charging while Genkai wanted the numbskull to think for "just one second of his pathetic life!" Koemna was banging on the projector, trying to shut it off. Poor Kurama attempted to play the peace keeper, rushing from one person to the next with a voice of reason.

Hiei only had to straighten his stance and the room became quiet. He walked to the center of the chaos, his Jagan eye glowing through his headband. "I have an idea, now listen."

Kurama took a deep breath thinking, please don't let it involve killing everyone.

Hello all. I apologize for the wait; I don't normally take this long. The actual plot will really start in the next chapter. Thank you for sticking with it. Reviews (both suggestions and compliments) are more than welcome. Also, I am looking for a Beta. Any takers?