[AN] There is so much potential for some interesting plot crossovers, at the risk of playing a little loose with some of the details… Something like this seemed almost too obvious - at least to my twisted mind.

To those of you who have been waiting patiently, my thanks; I have been having login issues and reality issues and so the going has been slow - but the wait is over and I hope from now on to be on my one-chapter-per-week update schedule. I do hope you enjoy, and share.

Any errors, OOCness, or other similar issues are mine. [/AN]

Prologue: An Unexpected Return

The cloaked figure made its way across the plane in silence. No one marked its passage until it paused in the doorway of the large room and lifted its hood. The cloak shifted back from its shoulders, proving in fact to be wings of the same hue as his hair. The digits at the apex of each released one another and he stretched them, the thin leathery skin making a soft whispery noise with the motion.

His limbs seemed a little too long for his slight body. Long hair the color of dried blood hung limply around his face, the length of it tied back in a high ponytail. But the slight figure's eyes were blazing orbs without pupils, windows to a bottomless, flaming pit.

Movement stopped. Whispers of, "It's him!" and similar statements susurrated swiftly across the floor, carrying to the desk in the center. "He's here, he's back. That was fast. He's returned…"

"Chiryuu." The voice from behind the desk was soft, youthful; the tone surprised. "You're back much sooner than we expected."

"Hai." The demon moved toward the desk as activity resumed hesitantly around him. Those nearest him skirted him gingerly. "The human Himura Kenshin has conquered me and cast me out. I was able to impart a great deal to him, however. I do not doubt he will succeed at his part of the task." His voice was little more than a sibilant hiss, deep and throaty.

"Hm. Well, that part's good anyway," Koenma said, poking his head out from among the stacks of paperwork. "You left him able to bind up Shishio Makoto?"

The shadowed brow furrowed. "That is the only remaining dilemma. He will be able to defeat Shishio easily if there is no interference, thanks to the sword style I created during the Sengoku era. But as for binding his soul, there are no humans I encountered currently capable. Chiokami is too tightly intertwined with the soul he has possessed. The human Saitou Hajime refuses to believe in such things as demons; there is no way the Blood Wolf within him would be able to bind up Shishio Makoto's soul."

"And none of the other Blood Demons were bound within the appropriate period... Damn. We'll have to wait until he gets here then. That's going to be tricky," the young prince of the Spirit Realm grumbled. Raising his voice, he called out, "Ayame!"

"Yes, your majesty?" She appeared in moments. "Oh, you're back!" she said, stumbling as she saw the newcomer.

"Everyone seems so happy to see me," he said darkly.

She laughed nervously. "Well, it's simply…"

"Never mind all that," Koenma cut them off. "We're going to have a problem. And I think we're going to need the humans' help. Quickly, Chiryuu, tell me everything you can about this Himura and his friends."

"He has gathered many loyal people around him in an exceedingly short time. I do not understand it, as I have been largely dormant these last months. With his stupid oath not to kill, he makes no sense to me.

"Most notable among his friends is the fighter, Sagara Sanosuke, who is a loose cannon but fierce and devoted. There is a young boy, too, who would do well in my hands if he were not so intent on following the human's footsteps in refusing to kill. His name is Myoujin Yahiko. Still, he is but a boy, scarcely older than Himura was when I came to him in the field of death. He may have another ally, in the near future, but I cannot predict the outcome of that confrontation... The name of that man is Shinomori Aoshi, and he is an impressive fighter. It is possible that he has been improving his skills still further, which would render him quite a formidable opponent indeed. There are two women, as well: a swordswoman in training by the name of Kamiya Kaoru, and a healer called Takani Megumi. Her facility with pharmaceuticals is impressive. I mind me of a certain Youko who would doubtless spend many happy hours discussing the various properties of plants with her; she is also rumored to have some Kitsune blood in her veins. The swordswoman is competent, and she loves Himura Kenshin, who is not averse to her affections. Their bond is… troubling to me." His wings shifted, spreading slightly before settling back in their resting position.

"Why is that?" Ayame asked.

"I do not understand this love that humans have for one another. One such as I can only understand death, and desire, and destruction. But then, it is for Himura Kenshin to understand love, and not the likes of me."

"I'm sure it's not that bad, Chiryuusan," the elegant ferrywoman said, still perched on her oar. She was fairly new to the Spirit Realm and still had much idealism left in her soul.

"You guys can get philosophical later. Right now we have to prepare. The Spirit Realm is about to be invaded and it better not get to the point where my father has to deal with it," Koenma said bluntly.

"Invaded?" Ayame gasped.

"Yeah. You remember the reason Chiryuu went to Himura in the first place, right?" At Ayame's nod, Koenma continued. "Well, Himura was able to conquer the side of himself he considered to be simply his darker inclinations. The problem is that it wasn't simply a personality aspect. Chiryuu was able to leave enough of his essence for Himura to keep the strength and skills necessary for some time yet, but the youki was cast out. What he doesn't know yet is that casting out the youko altogether is going to take more out of him than just the dark mentality." He made a face. "Unfortunately, the spirit-binding has to be done by a youko in conjunction with a human who can align their reiki. And it can't be done by working in tandem, either; the youko needs to be completely bound with the human's spirit. Now, there's no one available to bind the soul of Shishio Makoto before he dies."

"And if he fails in his plan to conquer Japan, it's we who are in trouble," she finished slowly.

"Assemble a team. We're going to need this Himura and his friends once their fight is over. He'll have to fight Shishio twice." Koenma looked less than happy about the prospect of recruiting a team of nothing but humans. Although, as close as that Himura had come to dying a few times… But no; if he had an oath not to kill, he would not be eligible for the idea that Koenma had begun to contemplate recently. No, there simply were no candidates since that Kiyosato boy had declined the honor – and he had been killed, with what Chiryuu called delicious irony, by Chiryuu's own blade. Besides, the whole spirit detective thing wasn't ironed out yet; it would need a few dozen more years' worth of polishing before he could present the idea to his father, the true lord of the spirit realm.

"There is one difference," Chiryuu said, interrupting the young lord's thoughts. "The second time around, he will not be fighting alone." Wings like the blood of the dying spread wide above the slight body; the slim features seeming diminished by the promise of suffering inherent in the grin spreading across them.

[AN] Yeah. I went there. Chiryuu (written with the kanji for "Blood" and "Dragon", naturally) is the reason Kenshin became known as the Demon of Kyoto. It is his flame-filled eyes that turned Kenshin's to amber. It was he who possessed the first Hiko Seijuurou to create the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. Quite a busybody, isn't he… And he's not done yet.

Not by a long shot.

But do not be confused; Chiryuu is NOT Battousai. The personality known as Battousai is not a separate entity, but the adaptations Kenshin made while being influenced by the youko within. And yes, Chiokami – Blood Wolf – is on a par with his fellow Blood Demon.

Now, because this takes place long before Hiei's birth, or Minamino Shuichi's, or Urameshi Yuusuke's for that matter, I can't promise that they'll appear. In fact, the chances are low. However, anything can happen...[/AN]