The Aftermath

Okay. This is the last scene left in this part. Then I'll get started on the next sequel. It'll be appropriately named 'Rescuing Hiei'. The reason I'm doing it as a sequel is so this story won't be overly long and drawn out. I hope you will stick around for the next exciting installment of my saga. :o)

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Scene 40 ------------------------------------------- Gandera

* It is very late that night when Koenma steps out of a portal onto Lord Yomi's balcony. The goat demon wiggles his multiple ears calmly so Koenma knows that he is aware of his arrival.

Koenma- You wanted to see me?
Yomi- Come sit down, Lord Koenma.

* As Koenma goes over to sit on the lounger beside the territory Lord, Yomi motions to the small table between them. It holds a pitcher and a couple cups.

Yomi- Please, help yourself.
Koenma- This isn't a social call. I'm very busy lately.

* Yomi leans back in his lounger and looks up toward the dark night sky.

Yomi- How often do you get to enjoy a beautiful, calm Demon World night like this?
Koenma- I've seen many nights like this. Do you forget that I'm many years older than you, Lord Yomi?

* Yomi tilts his head in agreeance.

Yomi- Why so terse, Death Prince?
Koenma- You know the situation.
Yomi- Ah yes... Lord Mukuro's missing Second... I'm actually surprised that you miss the little terror.

* Koenma takes a deep breath as he turns to look up at the clear night sky.

Koenma- I've grown to call Hiei my friend.
Yomi- I see... Am I your friend, as well?
Koenma- It depends on what you have to tell me.

* Koenma looks at Yomi and watches the Lord think a few moments.

Yomi- Do you have your recorder running? I know that Spirit World gets a good signal from Gandera on a night like tonight.
Koenma- Should I? Do you have something useful that I need to record? -- Or is it something you don't want on record.
Yomi- The latter would be preferrable.

* Yomi's ears pick up the soft tap when Koenma lifts his wrist and taps the watch-like device he's wearing. Yomi nods.

Yomi- Thank you... If my suspecions are correct, I fear my news will... incriminate me in your eyes... Yet, at the same time, I have no absolute proof to be certain of.
Koenma- If your news leads to Hiei's rescue, I won't divulge anything.. incriminating against you.

* Yomi nods.

Yomi- As old as you are, my friend, you must realize that Demon World is not governed by petty moralistic values such as Human World is.
Koenma- Exactly the reason my team is in this mess, Yomi.

* Yomi looks away, his ears and senses alert for any unwanted company.

Yomi- Tell me... Was that trash Satjiyu using some kind of... drug... on the team?

* Koenma thinks.

Koenma- He used some kind of a potion to bring demons into heat... He called it 'Hot Juice'... The SDF destroyed every batch of it that they could find in his complex. As far as I know, nobody else had any knowledge of it.
Yomi- Indeed, I never heard of such a potion.
Koenma- Then there was Euphoria. He was using that specifically on Hiei.

* Koenma watches Yomi scowl.

Yomi- Do you know how common that drug is, Lord Koenma?
Koenma- No. I'm afraid I don't... dally in drug use of any kind... So I wouldn't know.
Yomi- Let's just say that it's a very... highly requested.. market... There's a region that makes up the southern part of my territory...
Koenma- Shikyo Valley.
Yomi- Then you know of it...
Koenma- We had a brief trace on Hiei from that region.. not long ago... When the Shinobi got there they found nothing.
Yomi- It's a large region... I have many friends and... business associates there... I make good money off of a few of the main rogue leaders down there... I supply certain.. substances.. that they may need...

* Koenma looks away.

Koenma- And you think I don't know this?

* Yomi flips a couple of his ears toward Koenma.

Koenma- Like you said, Spirit World gets good reception from Gandera up there... Since what you do isn't breaking any Demon World laws I keep my nose out of it.

* For a few minutes the two sit quietly, each trying to feel the other out.

Yomi- It keeps the worthless wretches from sticking their collective snouts out into the rest of my territory... Even as powerful as I am, there are some in that area that would overthrow me if they banded together.
Koenma- So I'm learning. I guess I can't fault you on your sense of
self-preservation... The Rogue, or gang of rogues that I suspect to be holding Hiei, his son, and one of the Shinobi that went there searching for them is dangerous. I believe he or they are using a jagan powerful enough to take minds.

* Yomi looks away again. He sips at his own drink for a few moments.

Yomi- Again, that could be any one of dozens in that region.
Koenma- Yomi, I don't have time for this banter.
Yomi- Koenma, you must understand the position I'm in. I can't just storm through that region... blindly, pardon the expression.

* Koenma sighs and Yomi feels his frustration.

Koenma- That's exactly what I'm trying to keep Yusuke... and now the remaining Shinobi.. from doing.

* Koenma watches the goat lower his eyes and empathically knows that he is mulling over something significant.

Koenma- What aren't you telling me, Yomi?
Yomi- There is someone that requested a lot of Euphoria, recently... This particular guy runs a Brothel, just small time stuff... He's an old friend from my younger years that settled in that region... He introduced me to his newest... employee.
Koenma- Was it Hiei?

* Yomi sighs.

Yomi- I couldn't tell.

* Koenma looks at the goat again.

Koenma- You...?
Yomi- He keeps a barrier up that... dampens his patrons powers. To keep from losing his establishment to a bunch of rowdy, drunken demons.

* Koenma shrugs.

Koenma- Makes sense, I suppose... So you were.. with... this new.. employee?

* Yomi sips his drink silently. Koenma now realizes why the goat wanted the recorder off.

Koenma- Unfortunately, that isn't against Demon World law, either.
Yomi- I think you're starting to understand what you're really up against, Sir.

* Koenma looks away, taking his turn now to contemplate his next move. But Yomi interrupts his thoughts.

Yomi- Without positive proof, I will not move in on my friend... Get me something concrete, Lord Koenma, and I will be the first one to move into that region and bring them out.
Koenma- Otherwise you won't flip on this guy?
Yomi- No. He rescued me.. not long after I was blinded... I won't betray him on an unfounded whim.

* Koenma sighs then stands.

Koenma- Thanks for your hospitality...
Yomi- I can give you something that will help speed things up in case you get something solid... The name of this demon's village is Little Saurijo.
Koenma- Little Saurijo... Any significance to the name?
Yomi- No.

* Koenma looks back out over the balcony wall.

Koenma- There's now three events concerning them, that I'm watching for... You know of the situation concerning Hiei's son.

* Yomi inclines his head positively.

Koenma- The other... is a birth... The captured Shinobi was.. bred to Hiei... I won't have any further information on that until that baby is born in three months.

* Yomi looks up at the Teen Prince.

Yomi- Three months is a blink down here.

* Koenma looks back at Yomi.

Koenma- Three months is an eternity for Yusuke and Kurama.

* Yomi nods.

Yomi- Little Saurijo is in the part of the Shikyo Valley that's in my territory... If that's where they are you will notify me. I will handle it.
Koenma- With our help, of course.
Yomi- Of course.

* Yomi looks back up toward Koenma.

Yomi- So, how is Kurama doing?
Koenma- He had his litter. Three boys and one girl.

* Yomi nods with a chuckle.

Yomi- You will tell him that I inquired.
Koenma- Of course.

* With that Koenma turns and goes back through his portal. Yomi's ears listen to it dissipate, then he continues sipping his drink, his thoughts dreading possible future events.