Eyes that glow in the night
Streak of Crimson in a fight
Splash of blood that soils ground
Taint the snow all around
I See the Color Red

My face when I do confide
Shade my eyes turn when I cry
Soul is tainted by a lie
The fire burns deep inside
I See the Color Red

Anger taken much too far
Color of the coldest star
Signs on road call a stop
Just my hands when I am caught
I See the Color Red

I See the Color Red

Roses dance in my mind
Only color that I find
Love that never seemed to be
Memories that never leave
I See the Color Red

"It's not your fault." I'm so out of it, I can't do more than whisper the words.

"Of course it's my fault. I am responsible for my own actions." I didn't even have to explain what I meant, he knew exactly what I was talking about.

"No, it's not your fault. Crim always was a naïve fool. Noble, kind hearted, but a fool." I'm not even sure I'm talking to Akage. Just reminiscing about Crim. "I never could understand how he managed to stay so pure. I guess it was just a gift. Like his way with Mechanics."

My eyes fall to stare at my hands. They're decorated with nicks and scratches, grease perpetually under my nails.

"A gift that's now mine I guess."

Suddenly I look up at Akage. "You know, I wasn't there that night." I'm surprised my voice is so casual. "I got there too late." Irony rang true in every statement.

"But I can see it as clear as day. Like a movie playing through my mind." Akage's expression betrays nothing. No surprise, no curiosity, no emotion at all. Merely the expression of polite listening. Not that I really care what the killer feels.

Glowing red eyes in the night, flash of red amidst a fight, blood that stains the pure white snow, I see the color red, you know.

"I guess I really can't blame you. You did what you had to do." Besides, I can still feel him, always near by.

"Skylar, if you weren't there, then how can you remember me?" Concern is the dominant emotion in this question.

I smile a smile I never thought myself capable of. A cheeky grin my brother always wore whenever he was being especially naive.

"They aren't my memories. They're Crim's." My voice is soaked in childish innocence.

Akage and his companion exchange glances.

"You know Miss Breaks, we were sent to find your brother's soul. It never appeared in Spirit World after his death."

I must really still be out of it, because I continued to speak in childish tones. "After you killed him, you mean. What's Spirit World?"

Akage leads me to sit on the couch, preparing me for a long story. I learn of demons and Spirit World and Koenma. Kurama is especially careful with his choice of words. He explains without interruption from me, but not without a few comments from Hiei, as I learn is his name.

I, myself simply sit and absorb all the new information. I can't really say I'm surprised. Everything they tell me just seems…right. Like my subconscious already knows everything they tell me. When they finish, I tell them so.

"The reason we've been looking for your brother's soul isn't just because it's missing. But because he died before his time, there's a chance we can bring him back."

"But don't you need his body intact?"

"Actually, no. A friend of mine informed me just recently that because Crimson had a certain soul type, as long as his soul can be found, we can bring him back regardless of the condition of his body."

I take a moment to contemplate this. I never thought I could ever see Crim again. He's dead right? Beyond reach? Then again, if Spirit World can be so easily traveled to from Human World, then maybe not.

"I think I know where my brother's soul is."

Two sets of eyebrows shoot up at this.

I might have guessed it sooner. I always woke up imagining my brother's voice. Imagining his laughter when I completely goof up. That night, when I saw him lying there in the snow, I didn't go into shock. I didn't go into denial. My mind had been blank. I saw his body there, but I felt he hadn't truly left me. I- I just can't touch him anymore.

"He never really left you see. I told you he watches over me. I can still feel him. Just not physically. If I have Crim's memories, maybe I also have Crim's soul, too."

"But how can that be?" Akage leans back and ponders.

"I can feel it, inside of me."

Akage uncrosses his leg. "If that is the case, then perhaps we should consult Koenma about this." He stands up. "But not today. You're exhausted." I rise as well. I'm so tired I don't even care that his hand is guiding me towards the door. "Go home and rest. We'll discuss this tomorrow."

Sunday morning I find myself standing in a blue office. The walls, floor, and ceiling all have this tiled pattern of white on blue. Behind me is a large automatic door. Nothing about it is grand, merely too big for the toddler sitting in the looming office chair behind the desk.

I just stand there examining the few details of the room as Prince of Spirit World shuffles through his papers. We both know he knows I'm here, but we wait. I couldn't sleep last night. Only as false dawn lit on my window did I drift off into exhuasted slumber. Only for me to wake myself again after reviewing my memories in my dreams. Finally my stare gets to be too much for Koenma, and he looks up.

"Ah, Skylar Breaks."

Yeah, that's my name. For the first time in seven days I hear my first name again. He scrutinizes me for a while. Or rather, the air around me. Like he can see my aura or something.

"So, what's the verdict Doc," I ask to make a joke out of all of this.

"As you suggested, I'm afraid Crimson's soul is indeed in your body. The problem is, it has managed to intertwine his soul with your's, giving you some of his attributes. Particular parts of his personality for example." Koenma sighs. "I hate to tell you this, but I can't bring him back like I intended. Trying to extract his soul from yours is a delicate process and could be fatal to one or both of you. I just can't risk killing another civilian."

He watches me like I'm going to yell at him or break down and cry or something. My eyes lose focus and my gaze drops to the corner of his desk. I nod. After an entire night's worth of thinking, I hadn't expected much.

"That's fine." I shrug. "I really didn't expect you to be able to do something anyway. And what am I gonna tell the folks? That some toddler of a prince felt pity on a poor farm boy and decided to give him a second chance? I don't think so."

The toddler opens his mouth to speak, but I turn away. The door slides open for me and I raise my left arm in a backwards good-bye.

"See ya around, Koenma."

As the doors slide shut behind me, I find Hiei leaning against the wall. His arms are crossed and his eyes closed. One red eye cracks open when I stop in front of him.

"Where's the Akage?"

"Home, with his human mother." He ground out. Must not like his mother.

"Then why are you still here?"

"To make sure you don't get lost on your way back." He uncrossed his arms and stopped leaning against the wall. His voice full of contemptuous justification.

I brush past him towards the exit. "Riight, I can find my own way out, you know." I look back over my shoulder. "But I'd appreciate it all the same."

And once again, I smile Crim's smile.