Prolog: Strings Attached

"That’s ridiculous!" Kurama stated flatly, his green gaze steady over the desk, "I’m a thief – not a hero!"

"You saved Yusuke," Koenma pointed out, his small figure leaning back in his large chair, his enigmatic gaze firmly on Kurama.

Kurama took a deep breath. He’d known it was going to get him in trouble. He’d known it. But this… "Yusuke saved mine." Straightening up to his full height, Kurama spoke with dignity and reserve, "With all due respect, Koenma-sama, I am not a Spiritual Detective, nor do I have any desire to be become so. If you have problems, I suggest you take care of them." He paused, waiting for a reaction.

Koenma raised an eyebrow, "Are you done?"

Resisting the urge to grit his teeth, Kurama spoke calmly without showing how Koenma had ruffled his fur, "Yes. I will not go after escaped criminals for you." He allowed himself to grin, "On the other hand, if you have something you want stolen…"

"You are, if I may remind you, still on my parole!" Koenma folded his hands into a triangle, "I’m letting you stay in the human world…"

"Threats?"

"If you see it as one." Koenma abruptly sat up in his chair and leaned forward to pull some paperwork towards him, "Now here’s the situation: There is an oni loose in northern China. He got there legitimately – a fool summoned him – but he killed the wizard and instead of returning to the Demon World, is now on a rampage. So far, he’s been staying in the village regions and the news out has been very scattered. The government of China has sent soldiers in, but needless to say, they’re hushing up any and all rumors. What we need is for the oni to be subdued." Koenma frowned, "And then I get to do damage control." He sighed, "What I wouldn’t give for the days when supernatural happenings were simply accepted for what they were. Now we have to go around explaining and covering up…"

Kurama allowed another grin to pass over his lips, "You and your father were the ones who started that path."

Koenma glared at him, "The world was evolving in that direction. If we are to maintain our balance with the human world, we need to anticipate and evolve as well. The world is more than it was and it has to be carefully watched so we don’t send everything scattering in fifty different directions. The least—"

"Why me?" Kurama interrupted. He didn’t really give a damn about the politics. Whatever the rulers of the Spirit World said, he was privately sure that the worlds could take care of themselves. Back when there was regular interaction between the worlds, there had been hundreds of humans able and willing to do the simple policing job that Koenma was describing.

The heir to the throne of the Spirit World looked at the red-haired thief and sighed to himself. He was handling this wrong. He’d started out on the assumption that since Kurama had sacrificed so much for his mother and for Yusuke, the fox-spirit cared about humans in general. Koenma had been wrong. Fifteen years as a human had hardly made a dent on the multiple-hundred years as a care-free kitsune. Outwardly, Kurama was polite and friendly and respectful… very human. Inwardly, though… Koenma pushed the documents over the desk and eyed the fox-spirit. He should have appealed to the fox’s sense of curiosity and adventure from the start. Now it was a little late, but… "You’re a Spirit who’s been living in the human world for the last fifteen years. Do you know how unique that makes you? You’re the only one with a perspective of both worlds and an understanding of them. A chance for a Spirit World Detective, like Yusuke, only comes around once in a hundred years. And Yusuke has exceeded my expectations and performs on a level outstripping any other Detective. He is a human who can act on the behalf of the Spirit World." As Koenma talked about Yusuke, he studied the spirit. There it was – he hadn’t been mistaken. A spark of interest glinted cautiously through the bored green eyes. Perhaps… "If I am to pair you up with him, I need to know that you can work as a Spirit World agent."

Long fingers reached out to tap the documents on the desk thoughtfully, "Why aren’t you sending Yusuke on this case?"

Inwardly, Koenma heaved a sigh of relief. That was the right lure. The kitsune was thinking about it now instead of rejecting it out of hand. "Yusuke is on another task right now." One that would train Yusuke in spite of himself. If he survived. Koenma was nervous about all the close misses that Yusuke had had lately. It was as if Yusuke having died once, the world of the dead was trying to claim him again. Which was patently ridiculous since it was Enma-Daiou who ruled the human dead. For the first time, Koenma wondered what his dad thought about Koenma’s actions in making Yusuke a Spirit World Detective; and one that reported to Koenma, not to Enma-Daiou. Koenma frowned at Kurama.

Kurama frowned back, "I’m a thief, I’m not a policeman. How do you expect me to subdue this oni of yours?"

"I leave you complete freedom in how you operate. As long as it does not put more humans at risk."

Kurama regarded the small ruler thoughtfully. He hated being manipulated. But Yusuke… It was definitely an interesting proposition. Now if only… Kurama grinned to himself: It was time to manipulate the manipulator. He picked up the folder, "I’ll do it…" he lingered on the final word and watched Koenma’s eyes narrow as the small ruler tried to think of what Kurama might want as a stipulation. Kurama let him hang for a moment longer before he brought out his demand, "If I can have Hiei." Have him… Kurama hurriedly added, "As a partner." He wanted more from the fire demon, but he wouldn’t let Koenma know that. As it was, Koenma’s face wrinkled in thought and there was a faint hint of an aura around him. Kurama blinked as he noticed it; normally, the ruler of the Spirit World showed no rei scent at all – to keep from overwhelming the lesser powers said those that were in awe, to keep others from knowing how weak they were said those that grumbled in their rule. Kurama was of neither camp and simply waited for his answer.

"Hiei is a criminal," Koenma finally stated.

"So am I," Kurama quirked an eyebrow.

"You didn’t harm anybody, as well as the fact that you were under Hiei’s influence when you stole the Mirror. Hiei is a devious, dangerous demon and I can’t risk him loose."

Kurama bristled at the implication that he was under anybody’s influence. "He is also one of the most powerful demons around. I am a kitsune, and have little power of my own. Hiei can balance that." Kurama would let Koenma think anything about himself that would further his cause – no need to let the Powers know exactly what he could do! Kurama grinned, thinking of another point, "As long as you don’t expect the oni back alive."

"I don’t care," Koenma said slowly as he thought. Hiei… He and Hiei had been at odds now for more years than Yusuke had been alive. Hiei was cunning and careful. He’d never been arrested before, because no one could ever prove wrong-doing. Koenma now had Hiei in custody and had more access to other intrigues the demon had been involved in – he still couldn’t believe the sheer number of them – but to have Hiei actually working for him… It was an interesting thought. And a dangerous one. There was no way he could trust Hiei. The little demon was powerful; yet also had the morals of the underworld. Hiei would think nothing of turning on Koenma with no more provocation than revenge for his arrest. "What guarantees can you give me that you won’t fall under his influence again?"

This time Kurama really did bristle, his red hair rising around his face and his ears starting to lengthen. He got his ears under control, but left his hair as he responded in a tight voice, "I am under no one’s influence. No one." Green eyes sparked, "And if you imply that one more time, Koenma, you will find out just what it is that makes me a dangerous enemy."

Koenma tilted his head to one side as he leaned back in his chair. The fox-spirit was serious. Koenma had to wonder just how much of the original plan the spirit had known. Maybe he was making a mistake letting Kurama be on such a light parole. But he’d saved Yusuke’s life – from Hiei. And now the kitsune wanted to team with Hiei? Koenma tested it, "I’ll let you have Gouki."

Kurama instantly shuddered in revulsion, "No!" He turned around and walked three paces away from Koenma’s desk. Without turning around, he stated, "Hiei. Or there is no deal and I will not do it."

"I will let you in to see Hiei," Koenma placed his hands flat on his desk, "And you will do the job for me. Whether Hiei is with you when you go depends strictly on you. I will want his promise, and a compact – I will not let him loose without them. And when he is not on a mission with you, he will be back here. These restrictions are not negotiable." Koenma studied the back of the thief, wondering what he’d say. Kurama had to know that Hiei would never agree…

"Agreed." Kurama swallowed, his throat dry. If I can get the chance to talk to Hiei…

   ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...

Hiei studied the red-haired thief in front of him. With the wards everywhere and his jagan bound as tight as they could do so, he was left with mere sight. A pathetic way to see things. And, he had to admit, interesting. Kurama looked… human. And delicate. Hiei wasn’t used to seeing him like that. Normally, the fox spirit was so obvious to Hiei that the body got ignored. Except when he was putting a sword through it. Idiot. What sort of an idiot gets in the middle of a fight? The one standing in front of him, frowning.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Hiei raised his eyebrows sardonically and gave the only answer he’d spoken for the last two hours, "I don’t talk to traitors."

Kurama’s mouth pressed in a thin angry line, "You talked enough when you went hauling after me! Damn it, Hiei…"

"Are you done yet?" Hiei didn’t really want to go back to his cell, but this was getting boring. A change of pace, but the longer he stayed away, the more the other prisoners would wonder what he was up to. Even without rei power, Hiei could handle most of them, but it was a complication he didn’t need. If they were all watching him, there was less that he could actually do. And he didn’t plan on being in this prison for the next fifty years. Considerably less than that if he could get his plans moving beyond the basics…

"You really aren’t listening to me." Kurama sighed. And sat down, running his hands through his hair in an exasperated gesture.

Hiei stifled a groan. Obviously the thief was determined to keep him here until he got an answer. Fine. "No."

Kurama’s head lifted up and he stared at the demon across from him, his green eyes shading dark, his scent smelling of fear, "What?"

Fear? Hiei blinked at the odd reaction. He let the silence go on for a moment just to study Kurama a bit more, then clarified his answer, "No, I won’t join with you to help Koenma hunt down spirit criminals."

"You were listening!"

Hiei rolled his eyes – obviously this one wasn’t, "What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?" As he bantered, Hiei wondered… the fear he’d seen was because Kurama was worried that he wasn’t listening. Wasn’t paying attention… to his words, or to Kurama himself? What exactly was the fox spirit up to beyond the obvious? Hiei firmly suppressed a glimmer of fear of his own and waited.

Kurama’s head tilted to one side as he studied the demon, his eyes starting to sparkle, "I like a challenge."

Oh wonderful – a challenge. Hiei sighed. It was going to be a long night. Mentally, he started rearranging some of his plans to take into account the prisoners distrust of him when he finally came back. 

Hiei let Kurama ramble on, ignoring the reasoning and the bargaining and the pleading. Why the hell did the fox want him so much? He wasn’t going to do it. There was no way in nine hells that Hiei was ever going to help Koenma, even by proxy.

Then something Kurama said caught his attention and Hiei blinked, "Idiot."

At the first sign of life in hours from the demon across from him, Kurama paused mid-word, and had to redirect his thoughts, "What?"

Hiei grinned without showing it as the fox spirit obviously had to try and remember what he’d been talking about. Hiei’s reaction had been involuntary and he shook his head, "There’s no way a kitsune like you could defeat an oni like Nakatau. He’d rip you to shreds. The only chance you have is if he dies laughing at your challenge."

Kurama growled low in his throat, "I’m not helpless."

Hiei leaned back, "Oh? It seems to me you gave up without much fight. You might be a good thief, but obviously nothing more."

Kurama laughed outloud, dispelling Hiei’s satisfied smirk. "Hiei, Hiei… Why should I have bothered to fight Yusuke? All it would have done was gotten another mark on my record and me thrown in jail same as you and Gouki." Kurama studied the demon smugly, "I’m where I want to be – in the human world with my family." He grinned provocatively, "You’re the one in jail, Hiei."

A low growl involuntarily came out of Hiei’s throat. He stopped it when he realized what he was doing, but he couldn’t control the angry sparks in his eyes. Despite the wards, the room started to get warm.

"Ah, there we go," Kurama’s grin became more light-hearted, "a reaction."

The air cooled down and Hiei growled at himself for letting the fox get to him. Abruptly, he was tired of the whole damn game. The fox wasn’t going to let him go, and Hiei couldn’t get the guards to take him back down without the fox’s say-so. How long was he planning to keep this up? "What the hell do you want, fox?"

Kurama studied him sadly, "For you to use my name, for one thing."

Fangs glistened as Hiei’s lips drew back in a snarl as he enunciated carefully, "What-do-you-want…,–Kur-a-ma…?"

The red-haired thief leaned forward, so close that he was only an inch away from Hiei’s face when he spoke, "I want you to join me." He leaned back, the green eyes mischievous, "Come, now – you don’t seriously want me to get angry, do you?"

Hiei remembered the fox spirit’s reaction when he’d first approached him with the job to steal the three treasures. Hiei had planned everything carefully, down to the last detail. Even to the right lure to get the former Yoko to help. And Kurama had gotten angry. The anger was mixed in multiple reactions, most of which Hiei had anticipated. But the way the anger had been expressed… "No," Hiei said calmly, "No, I don’t want you to get angry."

Abruptly deciding to end the stupid game the fox was playing, Hiei uncrossed his arms, "Kurama – this is ridiculous. I’m never going to help Koenma and you know it. So stop it already and let me go back to my cell."

Kurama tilted his head to one side, "Is that what you want?"

Hiei blinked, "Kurama, enough already. I’m not going to help you!"

"Help me, or help Koenma?"

"Huh?"

Kurama leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers in an imitation of Koenma. "I don’t want you to help Koenma – I want you to join me."

Hiei rolled his eyes, "If you’re doing Koenma’s job for him, than it amounts to the same thing."

"Does it?" Kurama sighed and dropped the pose. He tapped the table between them, "Hiei – I agreed to go on this mission whether you joined me or not. If you don’t come, I’m still going to fight that oni to the best of my ability."

Involuntarily, Hiei’s face lost most of its blood. He felt it drain away and cursed himself internally for letting the reaction show. Desperately, he tried to retrench, to find a way to not care, "So?"

Kurama was grinning with satisfaction, "I thought so."

"Damnit, Kurama! Go out and get yourself killed. I don’t bloody care!"

"Umm…" The green eyes didn’t change expression, "For Koenma’s compact, I thought we could use my life."

For a long minute, Hiei found himself unable to say anything. He stared at the thief in disbelief. "I haven’t agreed to anything, you stupid fox!! And what the hell are you talking about anyhow – for a compact, it has to be something that binds me!"

Emerald eyes. Green eyes. Eyes that were the color of chlorophyll, a plant’s life and blood. They studied Hiei, and Hiei couldn’t look away. 

Kurama answered calmly, secure in his answer, "It doesn’t have to be. Koenma isn’t the one who will be doing the binding, so I can switch the forms and put mine in instead."

"Impossible."

"I stole the three sacred treasures, didn’t I?"

Hiei closed his eyes. How did it get to this? He didn’t remember agreeing to anything. He will put his life in place of mine… Kurama, moving between him and the Spirit Detective. The grin on his face and in his eyes as he flung his blood in Hiei’s jagan. Kurama, moving between him and Yusuke. Giving Yusuke his life. As Yusuke had given Kurama his? Hiei had been watching, that night. Kurama, talking for seventy-six hours straight. Talking just to get Hiei to… what? ‘I want you to join me.’ He hadn’t said for the mission, he hadn’t said to help him. To join him. Join? What did the fox want from him? What did Kurama want? 

Wearily, Hiei spoke for the last time, "You don’t need to do that. I will give Koenma his compact; and my word. Now, go away."

Not opening his eyes, Hiei listened until he heard the sound of Kurama’s footsteps recede out the door. Then he put his head down in his arms. If he could have cried, he would have. What did the thief just steal from him? Hiei didn’t know, but he feared. He feared Kurama like he feared no other. For the thief had just taken something Hiei thought had been locked and sealed away forever. And Hiei hadn’t even seen him do it. "Kurama…"

   ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...

"He agreed?" Koenma sputtered. "Hiei actually agreed?" Unprecedented: That was what it was. Hiei would never agree… "He agreed?" Koenma shook his head, there it was, in writing, on his desk, the document binding Hiei’s soul for the tasking. He agreed… Hiei. I have Hiei under my control. That changed a lot of things. There was much, now, that Koenma could do. With Hiei’s power under his control, Koenma could… Hiei would never work for me. It’s impossible. Koenma shook his head again and rolled up the document, placing it on a pile of other important things to file. He glanced up at the viewscreen and watched for a moment before pressing a button on his remote.

The door to his office swung open and Kurama walked in.

"Kurama," Koenma addressed him dryly, "Congratulations, you have Hiei as your partner. Though I don’t know why you wanted him in the first place." Which was a very real sentiment; Koenma couldn’t figure that one out. It was true, the thief didn’t have much rei power. But to trust Hiei? No one could trust that fire demon. Capricious and selfish as all demons, of mixed heritage and history unknown, Hiei was master of many of the black arts. He killed demons and humans with no thought or compassion. He masterminded the operation to steal the sacred treasures just to… Koenma stopped that line of thought. Hiei may have been captured, mitigating the circumstances, but he hadn’t failed completely in his intentions. No. The demon was not to be trusted. Koenma eyed Kurama thoughtfully, "You have Hiei. Now tell me how you did it?"

"Filibustered," Kurama replied absently, most of his attention on the viewscreen, "Koenma – what is this?"

Filibustered? Koenma blinked. He talked Hiei down? When he’d let Kurama go to the Tower last week, Kurama had been in the prison for a long time… Koenma hadn’t been paying attention, intent on other important tasks. Silently, he counted the time. Three days? He was in there for over three days? Talking? The fox’s voice was a bit rough… He talked Hiei into it. That must have been some talking. Koenma wasn’t sure if he himself wouldn’t have given in with that much determination! Absently, he answered Kurama, "The competition at Genkai’s."

"Competition…" Kurama studied the group, "Oh, to choose her heir. What’s Yusuke doing there?"

"I sent him. When he wins, Genkai will train him – which he’s too proud to take from anybody else."

"You sent…" Kurama turned away from the viewscreen and faced the small ruler, "Koenma! You idiot! Rando said he was going to go!"

Koenma’s eyes narrowed, "I don’t appreciate being called an idiot in my own office." His voice was calm, but there was a sudden swirl of displaced air through the room.

"Uh," Kurama blinked a couple of times and then decided that his best bet was to pretend that hadn’t just happened and he hadn’t just said what he had to the heir to the Spirit World. "But if Rando is–"

Interrupting, Koenma went back to Kurama’s last statement, "Rando ‘said’? Just when was the last time you talked to Rando?" Koenma wasn’t going to let Kurama get off that easy, though he let the wind die down.

"Uhh… It was just something I heard in passing – I didn’t actually talk to Rando myself." Though he’d gotten the information from Hiei while they were planning the original break-in, and Kurama was willing to bet that Hiei had talked to Rando directly. "You’ve got to pull him out! Yusuke can’t handle a demon of that power!"

Koenma shrugged, "Yusuke defeated Hiei." He leaned forward in his chair, "Now listen to me, Kurama. I do plan on letting you help Yusuke, but you’re going to have to remember that he will be the one in charge. You have to let him do it his way and not interfere. Help. Don’t hinder. And that includes not frightening him off with scary tales! Botan does more than enough of that, thank you."

"But…" Kurama trailed off. There wasn’t much he could do about it. Not now, anyhow. Yes, Yusuke had defeated Hiei… but Rando… Rando was very different from Hiei. He was sneaky. And underhanded. And didn’t fight fair. In fact, he delighted in changing the odds to suit his whim. He liked a challenge, but he liked to win even more. Kurama studied the viewscreen. If Rando was there… "Which one is he?"

Koenma settled back again, "Don’t know. He’s almost definitely there, but so far he’s keeping a low profile."

Yusuke… Kurama watched. "Who’s that with Yusuke?" Strong. Strong in more than physical. That one could be dangerous – if he wasn’t with Yusuke.

"Kuwabara. He goes to the same school as Yusuke." Koenma thoughtfully turned his own attention on the picture of the tall ruddy-haired figure. "I hadn’t paid much attention to him before. But I think perhaps I will." Koenma shook his head and returned to the main point. "Here’s your list and directions. Hiei will be taken to meet you at the transfer spot." He gazed at the red-haired fox-spirit thief in the human body. Enigmatic is a good word for him. How did he get Hiei to agree? "Good luck," Koenma was talking about more than the mission – Kurama would need all the luck he could get, with Hiei along.