Disclaimer – "Yu Yu Hakusho" and all known related characters do not belong to me. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters.

"What Goes Around . . . "
by DragonDancer5150

Chapter 15 - Proof

A familiar blast of explosive blue-white energy slammed into the ground between the posts and the exit, knocking both Bokuma and Kurama off their feet, away from the door to damnation. Recovering his senses, Kurama looked up the stadium seating to welcome faces he had feared he would never see again.

High above, at one of the audience entrances, stood Yusuke and Kuwabara with Lord Koenma, Jorju, and Botan flanking them. In Kuwabara's arms huddled a little girl Kurama did not recognize. Yusuke had yet to lower his fists, hands poised for another shot. "Hey, there, chief. Good to see you again. Now I'm tellin' you only once - release Hiei and Kurama!"

Kuwabara growled in anger at the sight of his friends' treatment. "Kurama! Hiei! Damn you, what have you done to them?"

His anger made the child squirm, cowering further against his shoulder. "He . . . he's here. He hurt me." Her soft, frightened words echoed through the sound-amplified room.

Bokuma climbed back to his feet with a snarl, hauling Kurama up by the chain of his shackles. "Who in the hells are you, humans?"

"Lord Koenma, what in the name of Inari are these humans doing in my courtroom?" Batsukuno demanded, outraged by the intrusion.

"Bearing the proof of Hiei's innocence!" Koenma shot back just as heatedly.

Across the room, Emperor Enma stood, speaking at last. "Koenma, explain yourself," he growled, his voice rumbling from deep within his barrel chest.

Kurama watched Koenma's face go sheet-white upon realizing that his father was here. He looked on the verge of passing out. "D-d-dad! W-What are you doing here?" he managed to squeak.

"That question has already been asked of you, son. Answer."

"Like he said," Yusuke put in angrily, "we're here to prove Hiei's innocence and to get him an' Kurama released from this joke of a trial."

"What?" Batsukuno raged. "How dare you - ?"

"Batsukuno," Enma interrupted. "Let them explain themselves. The solving of a crime against his kind is part of what the Spirit Detective does. If he thinks he has evidence contrary to yours, he has the right to present it."

Batsukuno did not appear to agree but he deferred to his emperor, turning back to Yusuke and company. "Approach and present your evidence. Bokuma, get the thief back here."

"A minor delay," Bokuma murmured as he hung his prisoner back on his post.

Hitting the floor, Yusuke marched straight to Bokuma. "Take them down - now."

Bokuma grinned. "Behave yourself, human, or they will pay for your insolence." He uncoiled the whip and moved as though to strike Hiei.

"No - stop it!" Yusuke snarled, backing off. Bokuma only chuckled.

"You," Kuwabara glared. "You're Bokuma, aren't you?"

Looking over his shoulder, Kurama saw the little girl look up at Kuwabara. "No, please - he hurt you," she whispered in broken Japanese. It was then that Kurama realized the little girl was not human but youkai. The deep red bodysuit he had thought she was wearing under her patchwork dress was in fact her own flesh. Small white claws tipped the digits of her hands and bare feet. Large, luminous yellow eyes pleaded with Kuwabara from under the bangs of shoulder-length, unruly burgundy hair. Long, pointed ears flopped down from either side of her head.

"Don't worry, Akaibara," Kuwabara assured her. "No one's gonna hurt you while Kuwabara Kazuma's here!"

Batsukuno stared at the little girl. "That is an illusion beast, an immature one. Feh, don't tell me you're saying she - "

"No, you jerk, she didn't do it," Yusuke growled, "but she saw who did."

Crack!

Kurama stifled a cry of pain as Bokuma smirked at a fuming Yusuke. "Remember what I said about your insolence, human? I think your friend here would rather you be a little more respectful to our Chief Administrator."

Clenching his fists, Yusuke repeated stiffly through gritted teeth, "No, Mr. Chief Admin, sir, she's a witness."

The little girl had buried her head in Kuwabara's shoulder again at the sound of the whip, sobbing softly. Kuwabara drew his arms more tightly about her, shielding and comforting her. Batsukuno continued to stare at her in curiosity, finally descending the podium once again to approach. Kuwabara stepped back, turning her away protectively, as the chief admin drew near. "Human, put the youkai child down." To everyone's surprise, Batsukuno's voice was softer than any had yet heard.

Yusuke sidestepped defensively but stopped at a gesture from Koenma. "It's all right, Yusuke, Kuwabara. He won't hurt the child," he murmured, finding his voice again after the shock of seeing his father.

"Nooo, hurt me like others!" she protested. Reluctantly, Kuwabara set the little girl on her feet but kept a hold of her as she clung to his arm, cowering behind his leg. She barely reached his thigh in height.

Batsukuno knelt to come close to eye-level with the girl. "How well do you speak Japanese?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "Not good."

He glanced up at Jorju and spoke in Demongogian, "Oni, translate for the humans. I doubt they know our speech." Jorju nodded hesitantly. Continuing in the youkai language, he assured her, "It's all right. No one will hurt you here. Where did these humans find you?"

The girl's words were still childish but more understandable in her native tongue. "In the kitchen of Master Tarukane's house."

"What were you doing in the Human Realm?"

"Daddy served the Toguros and they were hired by Tarukane. I worked in the kitchen with the . . . the human staff." Her eyes teared up at the words.

"And everyone in the kitchen was killed. They were friends of yours, weren't they? Did you see who did it?" She glanced nervously in Kurama and Hiei's direction before nodding. "What did he look like?" Again, she hesitated, then pointed at Hiei. Batsukuno stood with a grunt. "Bah! Some witness you bring me, 'detective'. The child only proves - "

"No, no!" the girl put in quickly. "He looked like him but he didn't . . . didn't look like him. He only looked like him." One could see the earnestness in her eyes as she tried to explain.

"Was it a shape-changer?" Hiei put in, daring Bokuma to silence him.

"As if they are so commonplace," Batsukuno sniffed, waiting until after the crack of the lashes so Hiei would hear him. "Except for the rare youko, illusion beast, or - "

"Well, sure! Can't anyone?" the little girl asked at the same time. "But you hafta look like 'em, too." To prove her point, she closed her eyes and concentrated. After a moment, a miniature Hiei stood in her place. She frowned up at Batsukuno and, in Hiei's voice, stated in clear frustration, "You're looking at me but you're not seeing me. You hafta see me. I look like him but I don't look like him. See?" With a shudder, she reverted back to her natural form, swaying in exhaustion.

Botan frowned as Kuwabara quickly knelt to catch and steady her. "Poor thing. You've already used up so much of your energy today."

"You okay?" Kuwabara asked in concern as Jorju hastily finished his translation.

The little girl nodded, then looked up at Batsukuno, her eyes pleading. "Did you see?"

Batsukuno studied her for a moment, then looked to Koenma. "Lord Koenma, perhaps you can shed some light on the nonsense repetition this child is sputtering."

"Have you forgotten, then, one of the special abilities of illusion beasts, Lord Batsukuno?" Koenma asked, one eyebrow arched at his counterpart. "She possesses the unique ability known almost exclusively among her kind to be able to differentiate people based solely on their Yoki, much like a Human Realm canine can tell individuals apart purely by scent." He turned to the little girl, commenting pointedly. "Akaibara, that one there's name is Hiei. He looks like the one who murdered your friends yesterday but does he look like him?"

Akaibara shook her head, then shyly met Hiei's eyes. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Mr. Hiei. I thought you had come back to kill me like you did the others. It wasn't till you left that I realized you weren't the one who came yesterday. I . . . I was scared. I'm sorry . . . " Tears filled her eyes again.

"How many kinds of shape-changers are there?" Yusuke wanted to know once Jorju had again caught them up on the discussion.

"It is a rare talent among youkai." Batsukuno glanced contemptuously over his shoulder at Kurama. "Youkos are known to develop the talent with age. Illusion beasts such as this child have the ability from very early on but their kind are not numerous. A few other species of youkai are known to be more prone than others to have an individual evidence the ability but, as I said, such a Yoki-talent is rare - and illusion beasts are the only ones known to be able to actually change the signature of their Yoki to further impersonate another. Usually such a fooling ability simply suppresses its presence - such as our thief here is known to be able to do. That one is not a common talent but it is not unknown." He knelt once again in front of the child, shifting so she could see the prisoners, and asked in Demongogian, "Little one, is the one who killed those humans in this room?" She nodded. "Can you point him out?" Another nod. "Show me who did this." The little girl hesitated in fear but pointed with certainty. Everyone startled at her choice. "The thief?" Batsukuno sputtered.

Kuwabara gripped her shoulders, not even waiting for Jorju's translation. "Akaibara, wait! That's our friend, Kurama - "

The girl shook her head, responding in Japanese. "No, no - not red hurt one. Big, angry, green one."

Kurama turned to look up at Bokuma. The cruel youkai only raised a condescending eyebrow at her but in his eyes was a hint of fear. Kurama growled. "I was right. It was you!"

After an instant of initial disbelief, Hiei's eyes hardened in fury and he began climbing the pole again. "YOU!" he raged.

Batsukuno stood once more, absolutely scandalized. "Child, do you realize that you have just accused my right-hand man and the captain of my prison?" The girl shrank away from him into Kuwabara, tears running down her face. He paused for a moment, then shook his head. "The child is obviously traumatized and confused. I can see her choosing the only other person here on the floor - "

Sobs burst from the little girl as she fell to her knees. "I told you he wouldn't believe me! No one ever believes me. But I saw him. It was him. He came and killed everyone. I looked all over the house after he left and everyone was dead. Tomoru, Kikyo, Achika, Yuko, Mr. Habani, Mrs. Gohan - everyone!" She buried her face in her hands, weeping uncontrollably as she grieved at last for her human friends. "I . . . I couldn't . . . couldn't stop him. I hid so he wouldn't find me. I couldn't help them. I wasn't strong enough. I wanted to stop him but I was too scared. But I remember him. I can't sleep because he hurts me in my dreams."

"Illusion beasts are as accurate as Human Realm bloodhounds in recognizing people on Yoki," Koenma put in softly. "She has no reason to lie. She did not know who Bokuma was before you told her."

"Her mind is not as strong as ours, Batsukuno," Kurama commented, his voice hard. "If you doubt her, search her with a telepath. I picked up Bokuma's vile scent as soon as we stepped foot in Tarukane's mansion this morning."

"He's been after us ever since Maze Castle," Hiei snarled.

"Hey!" Yusuke growled. "Where'd that bastard go?"

Kurama glanced about, cursing silently. Like everyone else, his attention had been taken momentarily by the child's grief. Bokuma had disappeared.

Batsukuno looked around the room for his prison warden, then turned in frustration to the little girl. "Child, there is no doubt in your mind that his Yoki is what you saw yesterday?"

"Uh-huh. It was big and red and ugly and angry and really scary."

Batsukuno shook his head. "To my knowledge, Bokuma has no ability to shape-shift. He has no motive, either, to have gone to the Human Realm and commit this crime."

"Yes, he does," Hiei growled. "I just said he's been after us since we 'escaped' him."

"He is not one to allow his toys to get away easily," Kurama agreed. "Commit a crime pinned on either one of us and we are both back in his care - for good. You have said so yourself, Batsukuno. He was just waiting for an opportunity such as this."

"And now he's fled like the coward he is," Hiei finished in disgust.

"Humph," Kuwabara grunted. "If he were a real man - "

Ignoring him, Batsukuno turned to his lord. "Emperor Enma, have you any insight on this?"

Enma's rumbling voice filled the chamber once again. "Illusion beasts can identify youkai on their energy but this one is young enough that she could be mistaken. It is more believable that the assassin committed the crime - but then why has your warden fled? Without him here to compare to the girl's memories, she has already convinced herself that he is the culprit - a telepath would do no good. Only Inari knows now."

Batsukuno nodded. "Then there is only one other way I know to settle this once and for all. You - take them down and fetch their belongings." A few of the guards lining the wall left as the rest approached, releasing the prisoners from their posts while keeping their weapons leveled and ready. Hiei stumbled a step or two before catching himself, lowering his arms slowly as he fought once more to gain control over the spasms of agony rippling through his muscles. Kurama, too, had to concentrate for a moment to keep on his feet without swaying.

Batsukuno took each one by the wrists, psionically freeing them of their shackles. He waved his hand, then ripped the sealing card from Hiei's Jagan. Stepping back, he fixed them both with a stern eye. "As our imminent emperor has stated, only the gods know the truth and can prove it at this point. Wardens will return shortly with your weapons. You two are to find Bokuma and capture or kill him or yourselves be taken in the attempt."

"A trial by combat," Kurama murmured. Batsukuno nodded.

"Hey, what the hell . . . ?" Yusuke put in even before Jorju had finished translating. "You can't be serious? They're both pretty badly injured - no thanks to you, buddy! You can't possibly expect - "

Without taking his eyes off his prisoners, Batsukuno replied coldly, "Their level of disability is not my concern. If they are indeed innocent, Inari's blessing will provide a means of victory and I will personally ensure that they are both completely healed. Otherwise . . . Bokuma will return them to me."

"That is the nature of a trial by combat," Kurama explained softly, meeting Batsukuno's eyes without flinching. "The fight alone decides."

"Don't worry, detective," Hiei sneered. "We'll bring Bokuma back - each of us dragging half of his severed body."

"Eloquent as always," Kurama murmured, giving his friend a grim smile.

"But . . . how're you gonna find him?" Kuwabara wanted to know. "If he can shapeshift, he could be anyone, anywhere."

"It's too dangerous to take Akaibara with you," Botan fretted, her hands on the little girl's shoulders.

"Not to worry - that will not be necessary." Kurama wrinkled his nose. "I could pick out his foul stench in the middle of a sewer. He fled that way." He pointed to the door through which they had entered.

"Give me your arm, thief." Reluctantly, Kurama did. Batsukuno locked a small bracer around his wrist. "This will give you access anywhere you need to go. If anyone attempts to hinder you, show them this." He continued with a wry grin, holding up a similar band on his own arm, "It is also a tracer. You cannot simply slip away. I know exactly where you are at all times, regardless of realm. And if you think of pulling the same stunt you did last night," Batsukuno added, turning to Hiei, "I promise that there will not be enough left of him to rescue this time."

"Lord Batsukuno." An oni guard approached carrying a scabbarded sword. "Here is the assassin's blade. The thief's weapon-plants were already disposed."

"Hmph," Koenma sniffed derisively. "I anticipated as much. Good thing -I- thought ahead." He produced two roses from under his hat. "An extra one for luck."

Kurama nodded. "Once again, I am indebted to your foresight, Lord Koenma."

"Just make sure you come back alive - both of you." He gave them a grim smile. "Give that monster his due. He's owed you two for way too long, now."

"We will not fail," Kurama promised darkly.

"Chh, we've delayed too long already," Hiei groused. "We need to leave - now."

"Agreed."

"Hey! What -? Wait for us!" Yusuke called but the thief and assassin were already on the move.

Author's Notes: Please be sure to check my bio page for any updates, etc. Thanks!