Author's Note: Please don't kill me... I know this is really late and note really edited but I had some serious writers block for this story. Also chapters 1-3 have been edited and I defiantly recommend a re-read of chapter 2. I added a small flight scene to it.

Please enjoy and review!

Chapter 8

Koenma rummaged through a few ancient files that had escaped destruction, his eyes darkened with knowledge. His clothes seemed ruffled and unkempt and his hand running through his hair made it look no better.

"This can't be right…" he muttered under his breath as his eyes scanned the document in his hand.

Somewhere, a door shut causing an echo to sound through the archive room. The noise caused to Koenma to jump, his eyes searched frantically for the source of the noise.

'I'm being paranoid,' Koenma mentally growled. He was safe; he was after all, the Prince of Spirit World… He glanced down at the documents scattered across the table in front of them.

He had read through them several times. The documents spoke of Kagome and a babe's blessing. It also spoke of King Yami and his crimes against the moral realm… against Kagome. The name Tamotsu Eiji had appeared several times as well as a Lady Botan. His name had even been written in these documents.

Each document had been signed with 'Prince Enma of Spirit Realm' and stamped with the Royal Prince's Seal. Koenma knew the seal well, for it was the same one he'd used many time before.

He didn't want to believe the chicken scratch that was written on the papers. But the Royal Prince's Seal is there… Only a Prince of Spirit world could use that seal, it was physically impossible for anyone else to stamp with in.

So who was Prince Enma? Koenma had never heard of him but yet somehow he'd had known both his father and himself.

"Young Prince."

The gruff voice surprised Koenma, causing him to turn around. A guard ogre stood behind him. "You startled me," he'd nearly jumped on his desk. "Please don't do that again."

"I beg your pardons, Prince."

Koenma stood awkwardly, waiting for the ogre to continue. He never did. "Hmmm… is there something you need?" Koenma ventured uncomfortable.

"Tamotsu Eiji."

"Excuse me?" That was one of the names in the documents.

The armored ogre had a toothy grin, before clarifying. "My name is Tamotsu Eiji, Son of my Prince. I've come to answer your questions."

Hiei watched as Shippou's dim image entered the room. The kit gave him a sly smile before heading over to Kagome's sleeping form. However, before the kit could disappear, the fire apparition spoke.

"I know what you asked Yukina."

Shippou paused with a nervous laugh. "You do?"

Hiei growled in response.

"I'll take that as a yes." Again, the kit chuckled uneasily. "Then you must know she has agreed to help." When he received nothing but a blank stare, he continued. "Will you help?" The question hung in the air heavily as the minutes seemed to drag by.

"Well," Shippou suddenly said, breaking the silence, "whatever you choose, this is not a forever decision." His body was fading and his voice was a mere whisper. "I have to go, please take care of my mamma."

An anger snarl ripped pass Hiei's lips as the fox kit faded into Kagome's form. That little brat was forcing his hand. Of course he would help, if only to ensure his sister's safe.

"Damn foxes," Hiei couldn't help but sneer. "You're all the same." Though he had to admit, the fox kit had more guts then Kurama ever had, using his sister in such a way.

He didn't want to believe it… truly… but somehow the story Tamotsu Eiji told seemed to fit. And it certainly explained a lot. Especially some more peculiar behaviors his father had that never seemed quiet… normal and had for some reason never been able to accept as normal.

Like for the fact his father never slept in the Kings chambers. He was in the room often but Koenma was easily able to hear muffled ramblings. One time, he'd heard his father screaming a bone chilling scream and had rushed in to see what was wrong. His father had been wild eyed and scared out of his wit and had chased his son from the room. Later, when the King had exit room he made no mention of the incident.

It had scared the pants off him, even thinking of it now. However, the more Koenma thought on that incident, he set aside the image of his father and tried to recall other detail from that night. But it had been dark in the room with only the opened door letting only a thin beam of light…

Vaguely, he remembered there had been an over turned table and a shadow of a flipped, broken chair.

Koenma felt a shiver rack his body before he turned his attention back to Tamotsu Eiji. "So my father locked the priestess up to obtain the jewel?"

Tamotsu Eiji blinked, before answering. "Your father fought for her release."

Confused, Koenma's eyebrow scrunched together. "My father is King Yami, Guard," he stated dryly. He was beginning to wonder if the darkness of the 7th level hadn't dimmed and twisted the ogre's mind some.

The Battle Ogre's small eyes narrowed before he bowed, "As you wish my young Lord." He straightened before continuing. "Where is the priestess? Only she will be able to resolve these matters."

"She's in the human world, staying with a trusted friend," Koenma answered.

The ogre nodded. "I will accompany you."

Kagome opened her eyes slowly, the memories from the other night still fresh in her mind.

She knew Hiei was no longer in the room with her and she wasn't surprise that with him gone the need for revenge had lessened considerably. It had taken several days, but she was not blind to the fact she fed off the darker apparition's emotions and that of Yukina's. Though she had not figured out why, something told her it was right and thought no more on the issue.

However, what she needed to consider was how she was going to retrieve the Jewel from the corrupted King Yami. There was also the issue of the young, blessed princeling to consider. It was apparent that he had no knowledge of his grandfather's tainted ways.

That led to the question of the Prince who had assisted her for so long. What had befallen the young Prince Enma? Was he dead? Had he been imprison somewhere or had his soul been destroyed?

Obviously something bad had happened right after the Jewel was taken from her. She had known from the beginning that Prince Enma had been a tender, fair soul but she knew even he would not stand by in the shadows while his son called another man father. And what of Lady Botan?

Had something dire happened to her as well?

She had never meant the Lady but she had known from Prince Enma that his wife was a happy, bubbly character who was just as fair and loving as her husband.

The reaper whom occasionally checked up on her recovery popped into her head. The woman was Yusuke's personal assistant but usually remained by Koenma's side.

Kagome couldn't help but frown as a memory nagged against her conscience, refusing to be ignored. Closing her eyes, she allowed the memory to wash over her mind. She could tell it was a recent memory by is bright colors unlike older one that had been dulled and muted with age.

In her mind's eye, she recalled the time when Koenma first released her from her cell and Botan had given her a bath. A sigh escaped her as she remembered the sensation of the warm water on her body for the first time in centuries but her mind did not linger on that. Jumping to the time when Botan had been dressing her, she recalled the reaper's actions.

Her mind had been slowed by the darkness then, but now she understood why the woman had dropped to her knees in respect. Slowly, her mind recalled the reaper's words.

"You are the Priestess that he gave everything for aren't you?"

At the time, she hadn't known who 'he' had been but now she realized the reaper was speaking of Prince Enma.

Botan accepted the silent response before she continued. "I want to thank you for blessing the Young Prince so long ago. Without your blessing to protect him I'm certain he would have been completely taken from me as well."

A single tear fell from her eye before she brushed it away. "I pray not to the Gods but Mikorido for your speedy recovery," she stated before rising from her position, her cheerful expression returned before Botan led her from the room.

Kagome's eyes opened slowly. It all made sense now.