3
Reformed
The two small dark jewels reflected a glow on a pair of golden eyes. It was so amazing how a couple of puny and almost harmless pieces of ornament could command such a destructive power as they had seen.
Hours passed since the pieces were brought to his office and Koenma haven’t realized that he’s been staring at them ever since. Questions filled his head. How did Friar Mari got hold of the jewels? And what’s more frightening is how did the jewels managed to endure the flames?
" George!", he called, realizing his assistant hasn’t told him who found them.
" Yes, sir?"
" You said, someone found these.", Koenma said. " Do you know who?"
" Um ---"
" You’re looking for me, your majesty . . .", a female voice cut in.
Koenma shifted his gaze at the door just as a tall woman entered. " Who are you? And who gave you the permission to enter the palace?"
The woman smiled, running her fingers through her long indigo colored hair. " Your father’s men had opened the gates for me, if you don’t mind, your majesty."
The prince of Reikai relaxed a little. " Just call me by my name. You found the onyxes?"
" Yes, um . . Koenma. I’m a peaceful youkai who settled a few distance from the cliff where the priest was found."
" Did you see what happened to him?"
" No, I didn’t. I tried to revive him but it was too late. At his last breath, he mentioned your name, handing out the onyxes. And that was it." She paused. " I guess, he wanted me to give them to you and so I did."
Koenma leaned back on his chair. " Do you have any idea what these are?"
She met his gaze evenly, knowing he was asking her a question that needs to be answered honestly. She nodded. " Not much though."
" How much is not much?"
" Not enough to know the capacity of its power but enough to know how and when it works."
" Really . . .", Koenma said slowly, lapsing into a brief silence. The less people who knew the existence of the stones, the better. And if this stranger would be the lone outsider to have that kind of knowledge, then it'll be less dangerous. But if she stayed in one place where he would be able to monitor her every move then there will be a smaller possibility for her to divulge anything about the case.
He looked at her carefully, having in mind that she, herself could be a dangerous youkai. " Tell me, lady. Would you consider working for me?"
A smile instantly played on her red lips. " It depends what kind of work you’re referring to, Prince Koenma.", she replied coyly.
Koenma blushed. " I-I mean, a job about the onyxes . . ?"
The woman’s purple eyes twinkled. " It’ll be my honor."
" Alright then.", he nodded approvingly as he stood up. " I have an appointment in a few minutes so . . make yourself comfortable until I get back."
" I will."
Koenma smiled and headed for the door. Then he stopped. " By the way, what is your name?"
The woman smiled. " Sakumi."
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" Look, I’m fine!", Kuwabara wailed. His arms crossed in front of his wide chest, pouting like a four year old.
It was early the next morning, Keiko and Yusuke have volunteered to accompany the Kuwabara siblings to a family psychiatrist.
Shizuru strengthen her grip on his shirt. " Don’t be such a ninny!"
Keiko smiled at him. " If you really feel okay then I guess you shouldn’t worry about it. I mean, Dr. Hinori won’t find anything. Am I right?"
Silence.
" I say let’s just get this over with.", Yusuke gave out a yawn as they stepped inside the clinic. " Everything would be fine, Kuwa. Probably he’ll just advised you to sleep, no chocolates, no red meat, do exercise, eat fibers, drink milk, eat this, eat that, stop this, stop that, blah, blah, blah . . ."
Kuwabara’s frown deepened as he listened to his best friend.
Shizuru glanced at the couple, hoping they were right. But they hadn’t seen her brother in his most delirious state. She turned to look at her brother’s face. Disgusting as usual. But that morning, he woke up with a huge lump on his forehead. Giving her a reason to persuade him to go to the hospital.
A middle-aged physician greeted them as soon as they were ushered in to his office by the nurse.
Dr. Hinori shook Shizuru’s hand, eyeing her brother carefully. " How’ve you been?"
Shizuru sighed. " I’m fine but obviously he isn’t." She told the psychiatrist about his condition over the phone and he quickly advised her to bring him to the clinic immediately.
The doctor quickly motioned for Kuwabara to enter his inner office. The three remained on the outer room, nervously anticipating the news.
It took half an hour before the doctor finally emerged from the room.
" Doctor . . .", Shizuru called, noticing his troubled expression.
Dr. Hinori sat behind his desk. " Tell me. Does your brother had gone under any surgery?"
" Uh, no. Never. He’s a healthy young man.", Shizuru replied.
Yusuke chortled inwardly. " Yeah, healthy, he, he, he."
" Why? Does he need one?", Keiko asked worriedly, jabbing Yusuke by her elbow.
Dr. Hinori shook his head. " I still need to verify that. But I saw something peculiar on his forehead."
" A cyst?", Keiko asked.
The doctor smiled. " Nothing that serious. It’s something else. It is a semi-solid, irregular object. And based from my ocular observation, it’s some sort of a soft mineral or a broken part of an entire load . . .", Dr. Hinori said, baffled by his own findings. He sighed as he stood up and motioned the others to follow him inside. " C’mon see for yourself."
Kuwabara lay on the bed, his head raised an inch. Dr. Hinori flicked on the light. The upper section of Kuwabara’s head was instantly bathed with a strong and glaring ultraviolet light. " The mineral isn’t embedded at all. It’s very shallow so we could operate on it right now."
" Would it be safe, doctor?", Shizuru wanted to make sure.
Dr. Hinori smile reassuringly. " It’s like operating on a small shallow wound, believe me."
" Dr. . .?" A nurse entered the operating room, carrying a large envelope.
The doctor took it from her and showed the findings to Shizuru.
Yusuke yawned as the doctor explained the details of the minor-operation. After much prodding and after relating that the procedure is as easy as cleaning your ears, Shizuru finally consented.
The three were ushered out of the operating room by the nurse. And the operation began.
Two hours passed when doctor came out of the room, smiling.
" It was a successful operation.", he said, shaking Shizuru’s hand.
" Oh, thank heavens!", Keiko said.
" By the way . . .", Dr. Hinori took out a small vial filled with dark thick liquid. " This is the mineral. Of course we liquified it to make the process much easier and less dangerous."
Yusuke eyed the vial carefully, his brown eyes lighting up at the sight of faint shimmers gracing its form. " Maybe you shouldn’t have taken that out of his head."
The others looked at him in surprise.
" What makes you say that?", Dr. Hinori asked.
" Something might get him.", he replied. " He may get worse."
Shizuru gaped at him. " My brother’s had been in danger because of this!"
Yusuke didn’t say anything, instead he opened the door and walked out.
" Yusuke!", Keiko called, then she turned to Shizuru and asked. " What’s wrong with him?",
Shizuru shrugged. " Maybe you should follow. I’ll stay here and tend to Kazuma. And here." She handed Keiko the vial. " Keep this for me or better yet give it Yusuke. Maybe he could ask Koenma about that."
Keiko nodded then left.
" Shizuru.", Dr. Hinori called. " Are you sure your brother didn’t do anything to embed that dark gem on his forehead? Kids this days tend to have really weird tastes in fashion."
Shizuru was surprised at the question but she answered it nonetheless. " He may be a bit delirious but I haven’t seen him do just that and besides he never had any wound on that part of his head. At least not that huge." She wrinkled her brow. " Why, doctor? Why do you ask that?"
Dr. Hinori looked straight into her eyes. " Before I operated on him, he grabbed my arm and threatened me." He took a deep breath. " He told me not to mess with it or else the evil one would come and get me."
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A small lovely young woman folded a sheet of scented stationary and carefully placed it back on the envelope. Her friend, Botan had just delivered a short notice from Koenma, informing them about a certain meeting to take place in the temple. Saturday morning, the day after tomorrow. Judging from the formality of the note, it isn’t a usual reunion. It is, as she could see it, an urgent one. She bit her lip, thinking of the possibility that another serious case’s on the way.
As if she doesn’t have enough problems for now, Yukina thought dryly as she walked towards the bedroom to check up on its occupant.
A few minutes past when her soft voice spoke. " Sleep well . . ." Her dainty hands slid the door close, leaving her sickly companion inside.
She sighed, ambling towards the image. Its been a week since her elderly housemate became bedridden and the altar on the lobby had been her companion. Constantly, reciting the whole litany for Genkai’s recovery. Carefully, she raised a string of prayer beads and knelt in front of it. She closed her eyes. Silence overwhelmed her. I hope the gods will listen, she prayed.
The ailing spirit light wave master, Genkai looked a lot older than she had been months ago. Maybe her time is near, as the old woman told them that day she called a reunion in this same temple. But no! Yukina would immediately thought. She isn’t ready to give up on her.
Yukina sat still before the image, her hands tightly locked together. She doesn’t know how long she'd been praying but she doesn’t mind. If it would take her the whole day or a whole week, she would.
About half an hour past when . . .
" Yukina . . .", a voice called out to her.
She tensed. Was it the healing god who spoke? Slowly she opened her red eyes and saw a flash of black before her. Quickly, she rubbed them with the back of her hand.
Her vision became clear. There standing on the front door was a small young man in a black cloak. The quiet and strangely distant member of the Reikai Tantei.
" Hiei!", she greeted excitedly. It's been a long time since she last saw him.
The fire demon smiled warmly at her. A display of affection, so common yet so unusual for him. A smile. A genuine one. One that he exclusively gave out to her.
But then he’s not here to do masquerading. He’s tired of that. And he has to say his piece before he loses his guts. He felt like laughing. Losing his guts. That again, is a rare show of emotion.
Hiei closed his eyes for a moment, his expression taking on a serious one.
" I found him.", he said.
" Uh . . .?!", Yukina cried out in surprise.
" I found him, Yukina.", he repeated. His face was a mask. Unreadable yet his voice was so thick with emotion that she couldn’t ignore such statement.
What is he talking about? She mused.
" I found your brother.", he announced.
His voice rang in her head. H-he found him? She searched his face for any sign of redemption, but she saw none. All she noticed were his solemnity, his small yet proud stature and . . .
Yukina’s eyes grew wide.
Is that what she thought it is? She asked herself, her sight was fixed on the two necklaces hanging around Hiei’s neck.
But they weren’t no ordinary necklaces. They were mementos. Of their mother. So torn and broken that she committed suicide. So lonely upon seeing her son, Yukina’s brother, be cast out into the wilds.
The necklaces. Each bearing an exquisite blue pearl, formed out of their mother’s tear.
" Hiei . . .", was all she could say. She had her suspicions from the moment he saved her from her human captors. The instant she saw his third eye. From the time he used his fire dragon power. To the time that she talked to him that day he left for Makai. And . . . and that time they fought the evil one.
Little did everyone know, Yukina had incurred a sliver of memory from her ordeal, being possessed by the evil spirit. It wasn’t clear yet she could feel it that day she asked him about her brother. She doesn’t understand it at first but as she think it over for months, trying to put all events together, she could well say that she arrived to a premature conclusion. Yes, premature. That is . . . . until now.
" How are you doing, my sister?", Hiei asked her tenderly.
A lump instantly formed on her throat. How she waited to hear those words. She had been dreaming day and night about what he’s like. How would he react upon seeing her. She dreamt about him saying that line yet to actually see him voicing it out with such love and affection was so warm and overwhelming that it almost brought her down to her knees.
She raised her eyes to him, wanting to touch him.
She hesitated. Hiei isn’t the mushy type.
He smiled as he took a step forward.
A cry escaped Yukina’s lips. She couldn’t hold it any longer. Feet wobbling and with tears flowing steadily down her cheeks, she forced herself to welcome him.
Hiei met her halfway, catching her in his arms. This is the closest he had ever been to family. In fact, she is the only family he had. It took him a while to think this over. Though he knew it’ll still be much better if she doesn’t know his identity, the weight of his denial could be so heavy, it might drag her down.
" My brother . . .!!", Yukina sobbed.
" Didn’t I promise you, I’ll find him?"
She nodded, her face buried in his black cloak.
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" So touching. The love of family flowing through the fire demon. Love for his sister. So surprising that he’s capable of such emotion. Love. Ah, yes. His weakness. My strength. Beware koorime, you’ll never escape from me."
4
Dead People Do Talk
Botan walked along the long hallway of the west section of the Reikai palace. She had just delivered all messages to the Reikai Tantei, and a note to Genkai were the meeting’s going to be held. She flexed her arms, trying to ease out her tiredness as she slowly opened her bedroom door.
She dropped heavily on her bed, eyes closed. Koenma called her to his office to work on some of his papers. " But I need rest. Just a second.", she thought. " I’m so tired."
Just as she felt herself dozing off, she sensed some kind of movement within her room. Slowly she opened her eyes then immediately sat up upon seeing a tall girl with long indigo hair and dark purple eyes sitting beside her. " Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The woman smiled, extending her hand. " My name’s Sakumi. I hope you don’t mind sharing the room with a new employee but I could move out if you want . . ."
Botan quickly shook her hands. " Oh no! It’s okay! Ah, I remember now! Koenma told me about his new assistant."
" Botan!!!!!!"
The deity stood up and looked at her roommate. " Um, that’s George. I guess I’m badly needed in the office. I hope you liked my room. I’ll be back in a few hours so make yourself comfortable."
Sakumi watched Botan as she left.
There was something in those warm purple eyes. Something strangely familiar. Who is she? Sakumi wanted to know. The prince of Reikai wouldn’t entrust a new employee, a stranger at that, to that girl if she wasn’t a friend.
Sakumi roamed her eyes around the room. She noticed the bright colors and pretty decorations. Probably a reflection of the owner’s personality. She laid her gaze on her cabinet. Full length mirror. Dresser. Then coming to rest on a pile of photo albums on the table.
Slowly, she ambled towards the desk and pored on the albums. There she saw a huge picture of Botan. A snapshot of all the deities. A photo of her, the oni she had seen with Koenma and a toddler who maybe the prince’s baby form. Sakumi scanned through the entire bind and realized that it contained pictures of her and practically every person on the Reikai palace.
She then took the larger album and opened it.
On the first page was a huge photo of a group of young people taken on a beach. They were all smiling radiantly. Sitting on the white sand, from the left was a tall long-haired woman. Next to her was a small girl with blue-green hair, a sweet-faced brown-haired girl and lastly Botan herself. Sakumi stared at the row of guys standing or kneeling behind them. There was Koenma, an orange-headed dumbo gaping at the small girl in front of him, standing beside was a small spiky haired guy in black, looking smug and sharp. Sakumi raised her eyebrows.
" Hmm . . He’s different . . .my type of guy.", she murmured. She shifted her gaze to the next one. He had his bangs falling of his slicked off black hair. His arms wrapped firmly around the brown-eyed girl. They’re definitely an item, she thought.
As she checked out the last guy, she sucked in her breath. He has a long red hair and probably the most expressive eyes she had ever seen. They were green? She couldn’t tell. But she knew for certain he was a hunky babe.
Sakumi licked her lips and stared at the photo. It took her a moment to realize that the guy’s gentle expression doesn’t quite match with his eyes. It intrigued her so much, seeing that those gazes emitted a strong sense of both calmness and cruelty.
She smiled. She liked mystery. And what could be more exciting than having that mystery on a dashing young man.
" Our paths shall cross. Mark my words, pretty boy. ", she whispered, smoothing her fingers across his picture.
------------------------------------------------------------
" Good morning, Yukina!", Yusuke greeted her.
Yukina smiled as she held out the door. " Good morning! We’ve been waiting for you."
" Um, where’s master?", he asked as he followed her into the dojo.
Yukina stopped in her tracks. She looked down and said. " She’s ill."
" Ill? She has flu?"
" Terribly ill.", she said softly as they stepped into the main room.
Instantly, Yusuke paled. And without wasting any moments, he rushed to Genkai’s room. It just can’t happen so soon. Oh God! Not so soon! He prayed.
Koenma was just closing the door when he finally reached the hall.
" Is she alright?", Yusuke asked anxiously.
Koenma didn’t say anything.
Yusuke was about to open the door to see her condition when the prince held him back.
" She needs rest.", Koenma said.
" I need to see her!", Yusuke insisted.
Koenma looked impatient. " She’ll be fine! Give her time to rest then you can talk to her."
" You’re keeping something from me.", Yusuke said suspiciously.
Koenma looked straight into his eyes. " I’ll tell you later. We have to discuss something equally important. Let’s go."
Knowing it was useless to argue with the prince, Yusuke took one last look on the door then followed him back to the main hall.
It was Saturday morning in Genkai’s temple where Koenma had set a meeting for the Reikai Tantei. Aside from the three, sitting on the living room where Kurama, Hiei, Yukina; and Shizuru & Keiko who insisted on coming.
Koenma sat on the floor, looking over each and every person present on the room. " Listen, we found something the other day . . ." He went on to relate the priest’s death, the recovery of the stones and the theory that the killer is a potential enemy.
Everyone looked stunned for a moment, afraid to say anything. The room was filled with uncomfortable silence until Yusuke cleared his throat. " Um, how can you be so sure that those black stones you found were the same ones we had on our relics before?"
Koenma raised his eyebrows. " Uh, we ----"
" Yusuke what are you saying?", Keiko interrupted. " Aren’t you curious about the irregular piece of onyx we found on Kuwabara’s forehead?!"
The others looked surprised.
" Onyx? Keiko, what do you mean?", Hiei demanded.
Shizuru tapped Keiko’s shoulder and stepped forward. Her shoulder’s tense as if about to recite a symposium. " I decided to bring Kuwabara to a doctor to have him treated."
" Why? What’s wrong with him?", Koenma asked.
" Is he sick?", Yukina looked at her worriedly.
" Not exactly." , Shizuru cleared her throat. " He’s hallucinating. For the past months he had been increasingly agitated and frightened at his visions."
" But he has psychic abilities. It’s normal.", Kurama remarked.
" I know. If it was the ordinary spirits he frequently see, I’ll be at peace. I used to see those ghosts as well but this time, he’s all alone. He’s witnessing things none of us could see.", Shizuru explained. " Sometimes I wanted to believe that maybe his powers had increased, making him see things that only powerful humans could capture. But the effects were too harsh and surprising. It’s driving him insane!"
" Hn! He’s one major lunatic right from the beginning!", Hiei snorted.
Shizuru didn’t argue. Koenma turned to her. " You think this is all because of our encounter?" This is proof enough for him. But there are questions left unanswered. And he has to look for those to confirm his suspicions. And then what?
Shizuru nodded then Koenma asked her. " Do you have the onyx with you?"
" I gave it to Yusuke.", Shizuru answered. " It’s in a thick liquid form. I placed it on a small vial."
" Yusuke where is it?"
Yusuke scratched his head then moved on to rub the palm of his other hand. " I forgot. But it’s somewhere in my room."
Koenma took out a communicator and spoke to Botan. He ordered her to look for the jewel in Yusuke’s room.
" So what’s the plan now?", Kurama asked after Koenma was done talking to Botan.
" Hey! You started the meeting without me?"
All eyes turned at the figure on the front door. Kuwabara stepped in, his face grinning in an annoying manner. He hurried to Yukina’s side and sat beside her.
He was greeted with silence.
" What did I miss?"
" Uh, nothing. You’re just in time.", Yusuke replied. Determined to elude any suspicions that they’re just talking about him, he turned to Koenma and asked. " So, we were asking, what do you want us to do now?"
" We have to visit the place where friar Mari was found. Just the five of us. The girls would have to stay."
" Then?"
" Then we’ll start from there.", Koenma finished. " I must admit I still don’t know what we’re looking for. We need something. A leverage. Anything that would lead us to something more concrete."
" What could me more concrete than carrot-top over here?", Hiei asked with a sneer.
" He means a link. To firmly establish the connection between the happenings today and our past encounter with the evil one.", Kurama explained. He didn’t want to admit to them that he himself had felt its effects. Not emotionally but in a more psychological manner. But just like Koenma, he needs a concrete evidence.
------------------------------------------------------------
The group smiled happily. Their sunny faces blending perfectly with the colorful umbrellas and white sand.
Botan smiled, clutching a photo taken on a beautiful day one summer at the beach. It was tucked away with the rest of their photos on the bottom drawer of Yusuke’s cabinet.
Prior to being instructed to look for the onyx on Yusuke’s flat, she had volunteered to spy on the investigating committee who took care of friar Mari’s body, making her unavailable to attend the meeting with the Reikai Tantei.
It was clearly her excuse not to join the group. A lame one at that. It's either the scene was just too creepy for her or that she doesn’t want to see a certain gentleman in the group.
She sighed. She wanted to see him. Its just that she’s not ready --- yet. Thirteen months. Quite a long time. Sometimes, her memory of his long red hair doesn’t look too vivid anymore. More time and she’ll be able to forget about him completely.
She ambled over to an old trunk sitting on one corner. Now, where did Yusuke placed that jewel? Her hands reached for the brass handle and raised it.
Her breath was caught in her throat as she stared at the sight before her.
Velvet lined interior was filled with gleaming gray objects, their empty sockets gazed up at her blankly. Their bare teeth frozen in deadly grins.
Skulls! The trunk was filled with human skulls!
Botan staggered back. Just when did Yusuke started collecting these? The question played over and over in her mind like a haunting hymn that evokes nothing but sheer horror. Only museums collect bones. Only barbarians gather new ones. She bit her tongue, preventing a loud cry.
" Yusuke . . . . ", she whispered unbelievingly. Then she shook her head, urging herself to stay calm. " Oh what am I thinking! I’m being too jumpy and paranoid. Hmm . . . Maybe its his science project.", she assured herself but she doesn’t look at all convinced.
She peered at the trunk, contemplating on things they might hold. Bad spirits? Then her eyes caught a glinting small object half buried beneath the pile of human skulls. The onyx!
Botan gritted her teeth. " Of all places!" Summoning all her courage, she forced herself to dug through the skulls. Their fragile figures clattered against each other as her slender arm reached in to take the small vial containing the liquefied gem.
Then she caught one of them. A large skull. About five times larger than ordinary humans skulls. She inhaled sharply as it’s glowing eyes flickered on and off.
" Now don’t tell me, Yusuke’s having eye socket bulbs for a science project.", Botan muttered.
As she stood there, mesmerized by the scene before her, she could hear a low voice. The words were indistinguishable. She strained her ears to hear it.
" Beware!", the low voice warned.
Botan gasped. Almost instantly she raced to the door but moments before she stepped out, it banged closed. " Huh?!"
Her eyes searched the area. The low voice still echoing around her. Then she spotted the window. Half-way to it, the glass panes shut close.
Botan let out a scream. Oh no! It was just like before!
" Beware . . ."
She cupped her ears and dropped to her knees. Moaning. The voice continued to vibrate through her. The same warning. Over and over.
Then she stopped. Slowly, she opened her eyes and forced herself to look at the skull. It was already sitting on top of the others, its empty sockets glowed eerily. But that’s not what made her stop.
" Beware . . .", it repeated.
" That voice. I heard it before.", Botan murmured. " Somewhere . . ."
" Listen . . . . I’ll speak in behalf of Makai’s future."
" Yes. That’s it!", she may be wrong but if her memory didn’t fail her then . . " Enki? You’re Enki?"
It seems odd talking to a skull but then again, she’d seen demons, ghosts and anything of that sort in both Makai and Reikai so this is not extraordinary for her. Still, she doesn’t like the idea of having a casual conversation with somebody’s supposed to be dead and was powerful.
As if in reply to her query, the skull floated in the air as a thick blue mist materialized around it. In a split second, a hazy figure of the late leader of Makai stood before her.
" W-Why are you here?", Botan asked. It’s basically not the type of question she wanted to ask him but that’s all she could think of at the moment.
Enki looked at her grimly. " He placed me here. Along with the others."
" Who’s he?", she asked but she thought she knew the answer to that even before she did. " Y-Yusuke?"
Enki nodded. " I thought I was the last one but a lot of them followed. All of whom are innocent, kind-hearted humans."
" Y-you mean h-he killed other people, too? Even after we defeated the evil one?", Botan asked in shock. " How come we never knew about this?"
Enki’s form started to deteriorate.
" Enki! Enki! Did we vanquished it? Enki wait! Answer me!"
Enki’s eyes stared at her with sorrowful eyes. That’s her answer.
Botan dropped to the floor and sobbed uncontrollably. She thought it was over. All of those suffering. All of those pain. None of her friends would want to embrace it again. Haunting memories they tucked within the innermost corner of their brains, now threatening to resurface. To elicit more pain and suffering. Would they let it happen again?
She had carelessly dismissed Koenma’s conclusion but this she couldn’t ignore no longer. No matter how she pushed it back to its grave, the experience continues to rule their lives.
Still weak and shocked at the sudden turn of events, Botan seated herself on the edge of the bed. Her back to the window, unaware that a pair of narrowing brown eyes stood, watching through a sliver of opening by the window as an identical pair of sight observed calmly behind its dark shadowy form.
" She knows.", one whispered, a hint of anger in his voice.
" Her knowledge will be her death.", the other spoke firmly.
" How?"
" We’ll have to discuss this with the others."
5
A Suspect
The sun was up high, its glaring hot rays poured down the earth, almost unobstructed by the thin wisps of clouds hovering in the heavens. It was so hot. Too hot for someone to spend a nice afternoon here. The air carried a warm draft and the place was more unwelcoming that ever.
Kurama could hear their shoes crunching against the heavily dusted gorge near the cliff where the friar’s body was found. The place was so quiet, almost eerily silent. Not even the chirping of the birds from a nearby forest could cheer up the dark aura that was enveloping around the place. Yet here he was, staring at a perfect scenery as if it was a piece of the heavenly gardens.
Ah, the land of contrast indeed. Beautiful yet notorious.
I knew the others felt it was well, he thought, sneaking up a glance at his companions.
Koenma looked nervous. Constantly sucking his pacifier as if his life depended on it. His anxiety was evident. For the prince knew this isn’t a case exclusively for the Tanteis. He knew very well he could be directly involve just like he was the last time the evil struck.
Right beside him was Hiei. Walking in even, confident strides, his head focused ahead, relaxed and ready for whatever the site was to bring to them. But in those stormy red gazes was an unfamiliar glint that was not clear to the kitsune’s eyes. It might be excitement, anticipation or maybe a bit of fear the fire demon was so adept of hiding.
Kurama didn’t ponder on this thought further as he shifted his attention to the burly guy next to him.
Kuwabara, he sighed. He seemed to have lost it. Though his actions sometimes appeared normal, his words sounded farfetched. Unintelligible even in his standards.
Lastly, Yusuke looked extremely calm and aside from that obviously itchy right palm, nothing seems to bother him.
They never really talked about it openly, at least in detail. Yet it was clear, the nightmare which haunted them over a year ago never really ended. Each has their own stories to tell, own horrors to fear still none of them had the courage to bring it out again. Kurama sighed deeply. He never spoke of his worries. Did the enemy visited them too, a few months before? And the shadow foxes. Have they seen them?
" We’re here.", Koenma’s authoritative voice cut in his thoughts.
They stood at a rocky ledge that jutted out over the steep drop. They eyed the place carefully, staring down at the narrow river, its clear waters rushing rapidly along the stretch. Beyond the river was a panoramic view of downtown Tokyo. It’s a nice place to die, Kurama thought, if he say so himself. A sudden burst of cold air breezed around them.
They shivered. Surprised at the temperature that was so alien a few seconds ago. No. It maybe not be the weather, for the sun’s power never wavered above them.
Kuwabara’s eyes wandered around the cliff, a presence made itself felt around him. He’s here, he thought. " I could feel him. Still mourning.", he whispered.
Koenma knelt down the side. Those people who found the monk, including Sakumi, didn’t found anything of importance, still his golden eyes searched for something. A clue, perhaps? They needed it.
Suddenly, Kuwabara felt extremely dazed. His vision wavered as he dropped on his knees.
" Ohhh!!!" He pressed both palms on his temples. His head was spinning. " I see something. I see something!"
The others shifted their gazes on him.
" What do you see?". Yusuke asked worriedly, still debating whether this is just one his best friend’s surges but judging from his face, he knew this is more than just an illusion.
Kuwabara staggered back, his eyes wide.
" What is it?", Hiei asked, impatient as usual.
" I-I s-saw him. I saw him . . .", he spoke, barely above whisper, voice floated in the air like a lost soul searching for recognition. Yes, indeed he’s here, wanting to avenge his death.
" F-Friar Mari?", the name spilled out of the prince’s mouth automatically.
Kuwabara nodded, groping for his chest, feeling the same terror the friar felt. " Yes, h-he . . he’s scared . . so scared."
" Did you saw the killer?", Koenma asked anxiously.
Kuwabara’s hands flew over his face. " I’m not sure . . . yeah wait . . it’s starting to clear . . yes . . S-she has long copper-colored hair and . . ."
" She? You mean it’s a woman?", Yusuke cut in.
" Y-yes. Yes, and her eyes were gold. Very beautiful.", Kuwabara said.
Koenma stared hard at him. " What age?"
Kuwabara shook his head slowly. " I don’t know . . . but she looks like she’s in her forties though she looked a lot younger than that."
" And there’s something else . ."
" What?", Yusuke asked.
" Shhhh!!!", Kurama hushed. " Let him speak!"
" She wears a crown with an intricate symbol . . .", slowly Kuwabara turned his head to Koenma. " . . a symbol I saw in your office."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. The others appeared more stunned than confused as the spirit world was brought into the picture.
" The Reikai royal insignia?", Kurama finally asked, knowing that the symbol is exclusively being worn by the members of the ruling family in Reikai. " Are you sure?"
" I’m positive!!", Kuwabara cried out indignantly.
Instantly, Koenma turned red with anger. " STOP IT! SHUT UP! MAKE HIM SHUT UP!"
The others looked at him in silent shock.
" Koenma . . .", Kurama called softly.
The prince pressed his palm against his face.
Kuwabara looked perplexed, not realizing the weight of his accusation. " S-Something I’ve said?"
" Shut up.", Koenma repeated. His tone even yet it was very firm and tight. " I don’t want to hear any word from you about my mother. ‘got that?"
Yusuke raised his eyebrow. " Mother?"
" Look, I think we should listen. Kuwabara may be onto something here.", Kurama said, trying to calm the raging prince.
It took quite a while before Koenma finally conceded.
" You’d better start talking, pighead.", Koenma said angrily.
Kuwabara tried to ignore his outrage as he sat down on the exact spot where the priest stood. He closed his eyes, shutting out all other outside entities. A few seconds gone by, silently capturing the right connection to the past. " He knew her.", he said suddenly. " Friar Mari knew her very well. I heard him call her name. He thought she’s an ally so he smiled at her. But his smile was instantly replaced by a frown when the lady told him that she’s the one. Everything happened in a split second. There was a gentle push and before, he knew it, Friar Mari found himself plummeting down the side of the cliff. His cries were cut short as his body was pierced by a sharp twig. And the lady, holding out a large black stone . . she, she was laughing, happy to see him die . ."
" Stop. Please stop.", Koenma interrupted.
" But I’m not finished!", Kuwabara protested.
" I don’t need to know anything! I could plainly see that YOU have gone completely insane!", Koenma yelled. " You want to know why? Because she’s already gone. Long dead."
With that he turned around and left. But not before he had cruelly suggested to send Kuwabara to an asylum. Who, in his right mind, would dare accuse the late queen of Reikai with such crime? No one! Koenma thought angrily, storming madly away from the cliff.
Hiei immediately followed the prince, a smirk on his face.
Kurama started walking away as well, unsure whether to believe him or not.
Kuwabara sank onto the earth, watching all his friends leave. Why can’t they believe me? I saw her. Long brown hair. Golden eyes. Who cares if he’s Koenma’s mother? I haven’t seen any of her pictures before and that sucking git never spoke of her, he thought angrily.
Yusuke approached him, his face bathed with pity. " C’mon let’s go home."
" Do you believe in me, Yusuke?"
Large brown eyes looked downcast. What would he say? Its just too . . . crazy. He turned his back and slowly walked away. " Let’s go home." He repeated.
Kuwabara stared hard at his back, feeling so helpless and betrayed. For the past months, he felt as if he wasn’t being taken seriously. Even his own sister seemed to cast him doubtful glances every time he mentions the shadows who chase him almost every night. Why do they ignore his thoughts and feelings? Why? Because they never trusted his judgement in the first place? Or maybe they’re having seconds thoughts about his sanity?
It's been quite a long time since they've seen each other after the last mission. The first encounter. Where he became a merciless beast killing off people here in Ningenkai. But we've all been victims, he thought angrily. Why would they treat him differently as if he was carrying a deadly virus?
Kuwabara clenched his fist tightly, still glaring at his friends’ backs as they started to go down a hill. " Well , if none of them believed me then I would just have to find out the truth myself.", he declared silently as he reluctantly stood up and followed..
------------------------------------------------------------
Koenma pushed open the heavy palace door. He pushed hard. Too hard. His face was all crunched up, eyebrows drawn. A frown evident, still seething with anger over Kuwabara’s alleged ‘ visions ’.
George looked at him worriedly, clutching a few documents at hand. " Is everything okay, sir?"
" Do I look okay to you?", he snapped.
The oni swallowed hard. " Er, no . . ."
George followed him in silence as they took the flight of stairs to the third floor.
" What is it?", Koenma finally asked.
" Sakumi’s records.", George said, handing out the documents.
Koenma scanned the data quickly while his assistant prattled on, telling him that their new female employee doesn’t have any records of entry from Makai to Ningenkai during the time of Sensui’s case and that she never had any history of assaulting innocent humans.
Koenma nodded his head in approval as he handed the papers back to his assistant. " Just keep it for me, I have to go to the library."
With that he slowly walked down the hall to the room.
It didn’t took him much time before he finally stepped on the carpeted floor of the library. The walls still hold a glaring memory of which all the horrors started. Hadn’t he found the box, none of this would have happened, he silently blamed himself.
Koenma went past the towering bookcases to the back of the library. He paced towards the safe. He doesn’t know why he’s here.
Since they lost the golden book and the relics where all destroyed --- at least that’s what they thought, it occurred to him that probably the case may bear a few secrets on its own.
He turned the knob for the last time then it clicked. Carefully, he opened the small door and took the empty black case.
He hadn’t seen it for a long time but the case still bore the haunting aura of the evil that was. The frightening symbol on the cover, that of an inhuman creature, still scares the hell out of him. Koenma shook his head, refusing to stare at the two glowing eyes of the symbol as he unlocked the case and opened it. The divisions were still there. Still covered with carved lids. There was the fox, the dragon, the sword bearer, the falcon and the . . .
" Oh yeah, It was ambiguous . . but . .", he whispered, eyeing it carefully. It was one of the mysteries surrounding the relics and the golden book which was left unanswered. He hoped this time, he’ll be able to find out the truth.
The lid is thick, he realized. Involuntarily, he ran his fingers across the fifth lid. He felt extrusions other than the one on top. Maybe the abstract symbol is just a way to defy the founder of the case. He was, anyway, the recipient of the fifth relic so his symbol should be the one engraved on it.
Pulse raising, he thought of the possibility that the fifth carving may hold the true identity of the fifth element. And boy! Was he hoping that he’ll be able to unearth HIS royal insignia and not his mom’s like Kuwabara told them.
Koenma searched the lid inch by inch, carefully running his fingers through it. He was about to give up when he noticed a small dent where the lining was peeled. He then picked the small dent with tweezers. The black covering was peeled off, revealing a wooden base underneath.
Minutes passed, Koenma worked tediously to unearth the entire carving. He was half-way through the process when he noticed a part of it.
He gasped. " This isn’t real . . .", he breathed.
Slightly trembling, his hands flew. Tearing the dark lining.
Until the symbol was lain in full view.
" No . . .", Koenma whispered brokenly. " No, no, no!!!!"
To be continued . . . . .