She was almost asleep under Mother's heart when she heard a forlorn and terrified wail, like that of a small and injured child. Without a second thought, she called out to it, inviting it to her to be cared for. Confident she had been heard, she yawned and went to sleep.

The first memory the part of a soul that currently called itself Minamino Shuiichi had of this life was waking up and feeling that her body had changed. <Mother is going to be unhappy when Beloved comes,> she had thought wryly. The body was no longer female, as it should have been. Instead it was male, and it would shortly begin growing golden eyes and silver hair. The soul discovered it was too late to undo the masculinity, of course, but she set about repairing the hair and they eyes, at least. She wanted Beloved to recognize her, after all.

When that was done, she had turned to the other soul curled up in a small corner. It was, she had discovered, not a child, but a full-grown youko. Male, of course, with silver hair and, she presumed, golden eyes. It was also very badly injured. <Well, he'll never survive birthing like that!> she'd thought. Without hesitation, she had merged their souls while the other slept, repairing much of the damage.

She'd romped through this Kurama's memories gleefully. <Beloved will enjoy this!> she'd thought. <He's so much fun!> Then, with a yawn, she'd curled up and gone to sleep, knowing the merging would be complete by the time either of them woke and they would no longer be separate souls.

That had been almost twenty years ago. The body was now nineteen and a half years old. Beloved had been around for about seven of them, and they were still not together! Shuiichi-chan was growing sulky. And a bit frightened. Perhaps Beloved didn't want the part of her that was youko? But the merging couldn't be undone now! Or . . . could it?

Kurama woke with a headache. He stumbled over to his desk and dug out his herb bag. He quickly brewed a cup of willow-bark tea and drank it. Then he started to dress, hoping the headache would be gone by the time he got to school.

It wasn't. In fact, he was feeling worse than before. He rubbed at his temples while trying to focus on Sensei's lecture. As usual, he didn't even notice the girls gazing at him, only this time their looks weren't adoring, but concerned.

"Minamino-kun, would you . . . Minamino-kun?" Sensei said, frowning. Kurama looked up, blinking.

"H-Hai, Sensei?" he got out.

"Would you please come to the board and show the class how to do problem seven from last night's homework?" Sensei asked. She looked concerned, however. She wasn't sure her prize pupil would be able to make it to the board.

In fact, he couldn't. Kurama nodded and rose, and promptly collapsed.

Shiori-san hurried to the hospital with her husband, tense and full of worry. She was grateful for Hatanaka-san's support. She wasn't sure she'd be able to make it, if it weren't for him. <Shuiichi has never been sick before!> she thought, clutching at Hatanaka-san's arm.

"I'm sure he'll be fine--he's a strong boy," Hatanaka-san said comfortingly, patting his wife's hand. He knew it wouldn't do any good. Shiori-san smiled at him for making the effort, though. They made their way to Shuiichi's room quickly.

Shuiichi lay pale against the pristine sheets. His face gleamed with sweat; his hair was dark with it. He tossed his head as in pain, moaning a bit. Shiori-san bit back a low cry and flew to her son's side. She grasped his hand with trembling fingers, tears already beginning to slip down her cheeks.

Youko Kurama was confused. He didn't know what was going on. He stood on a misty gray field and stared around at the uniform detail, ready for anything. He clenched a rose between his fingers so tightly it was nearly crushed.

The mist swirled before him. He leapt back with a low cry, startled, as a young red-haired woman with green eyes appeared. She wore the school uniform of Minamino Shuiichi, but it was open enough to accommodate her . . . attributes.

"Who the hell are you!?" Kurama demanded.

"I'm Minamino Shuiichi," the shade replied casually. Kurama threw his head back and laughed scornfully.

"Minamino Shuiichi is male. Further, he's me," he told the girl firmly.

"True--but not for much longer. You do know what happens when two spirits inhabit one body, don't you?" the girl replied.

"Of course," Kurama replied. "I see. You're trying to possess me."

"Wrong. You possessed me, once upon a time," the girl said. "Twenty years ago, remember? You came into my body and rearranged it to your liking. When you woke up after doing that, you assumed I'd been forced out, didn't you?"

Kurama blinked. "So you're the human soul who was in the infant's body? Won't wash, girl. You wouldn't've stayed dormant in here for twenty years."

"You're right. But . . . do you know what happens when two spirits inhabit one body? They fight . . . or they merge." Kurama's eyes widened. He was beginning to understand. Only . . .

"Then how are we separate now? The merging should've been complete in under a month!"

"Oh, it was," Shuiichi-chan assured him. "For almost twenty years, I've been an alter-ego, keeping you out of trouble. But I've changed my mind."

"Changed . . . ? What the hell for!?"

"I want something, and you're not getting it. I've been patient for several years, but it shows no signs of happening. And it's because of you. So, I'm going to get rid of you."

"You can't reverse a merging after so long!" Kurama exclaimed. "It'll destroy us both!"

"I've taken pains to assure that it doesn't. In fact, we're almost completely separate again now. There's only one small matter to resolve."

"And that is?"

"It's my body," Shuiichi-chan replied harshly, her green eyes glowing. Before Kurama could react, she had summoned up a Rose Whip and attacked.

"Boss! Boss! Boss, we got a real emergency!" George cried frantically, throwing the doors to Koenma-sama's office open. Koenma sat up to scold the oni furiously when the file was shoved in his face. Out of habit, he took it and read it.

"Shit!" he cursed. "Get me Botan--now!" George vanished, and Koenma read the report more thoroughly. He closed the doors to his office and spent several minutes throwing a small fit in private. He was calm again by the time Botan arrived.

"Hai, Koenma-sama?" Botan said cheerfully.

"Sit," Koenma ordered. Botan blinked and sat in the chair before the desk as George pulled the doors shut again. "We have a problem."

"Oh?" Botan blinked, cocking her head to one side to hear the problem. Koenma filled her in rapidly. She shot to her feet and ran to the door, throwing it open. "I'm on my way!" she cried over her shoulder.

Yuusuke, Kuwabara, and Keiko all arrived at the hospital together. They were met by Kurama's step-father, who led them to Kurama's room. Shiori-san was fast asleep in the stuffed chair by the wall, exhausted. Hatanaka-san covered her with a blanket gently as he spoke to the trio.

"The doctors don't know what's wrong. He doesn't respond to any treatments. His symptoms . . . don't fit any known illness."

"Ku . . . Shuiichi-kun? Shuiichi-kun, can you hear me?" Keiko asked, bending over Kurama. The only response was a toss of Kurama's fever-darkened face. The girl straightened, worried. Her eyes met Yuusuke's helplessly.

Kuwabara shifted uneasily. He had absolutely no idea what to do to help his friend, and he wasn't precisely comfortable in the hospital, besides. He looked around--and screeched as Botan appeared out of nowhere right in front of him.

"Wha--!?" Hatanaka-san jumped and stared at the blue-haired girl in the pink kimono--and the oar she was riding. His wife woke and stared, as well. Yuusuke and Keiko both blinked.

Botan's face was serious, even somber, an unusual look for her. She stood up, and her oar vanished. "I know what's wrong with him," she said. <Please, please don't let him hate me for this later!> she prayed silently. "But . . . it's not something a doctor can help."

"Who are you!? What the hell is going on!?" Hatanaka-san demanded.

"It's a long story, "Botan assured him. "But I think it would be better if we went someplace else to discuss it."

"I'm not leaving my son!" Shiori-san objected.

"I'll stay with him," Keiko volunteered. She shot a look at Yuusuke to inform him he'd better let her know all the details later, if he knew what was good for him. Yuusuke rolled his eyes and nodded slightly.

Shiori-san hesitated. After a glance at her husband, she reluctantly agreed. If there was anything, anything at all, that could help her son, she was determined to follow up on it. Hatanaka-san helped her up, and they left the hospital with Botan, Yuusuke, and Kuwabara.

Botan sat gingerly on the edge of the couch at Kurama's home. Now, in addition to Yuusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama's parents, young Shuiichi-kun was home from school and listening. She had a larger audience than she'd anticipated, and she was very nervous about their reaction.

Shiori-san had served tea, as much to soothe herself as to soothe Botan's nerves. Now she sipped it slowly, letting the hot beverage relax her a bit. She waited for Botan to begin.

Botan took a deep breath. "My name is Botan," she introduced, "and I'm a Spirit Guide for Reikai. It's my job to guide spirits to their intended destination when their bodies die." She looked Kurama's family in the eyes, proving her tale silently. "There's another side to the job, and that's to guide spirits who are being reborn to their new bodies. I was the one who guided the spirit of your baby to you before he was born, twenty years ago, Shiori-san." Shiori-san blinked in amazement. "Only . . . only the spirit I guided was female."

"Nani!?" Yuusuke and Kuwabara demanded incredulously. Botan nodded.

"She was a very special spirit. This was to be her seventh re-birth, her seventh lifetime. Not many spirits are re-born that many times," Botan explained. "And . . . and my friend, Sakura, was guiding another special spirit to his destination. The two were lovers, you see. They . . . their love was so strong they would only ever love each other, no matter what. So they were always re-born together, close enough that they could find each other easily."

Shiori-san and her husband exchanged a look. "But . . . Shuiichi is a boy," Shiori-san pointed out. Botan nodded again, dropping her eyes. The next bit of news wouldn't be easy for them to accept.

"When . . . when I was leaving, I heard a spiritual cry for help. I went to find out what had happened, but I couldn't find the source of the cry. It wasn't until about four years ago that I found out what had happened." She stopped and took a sip of tea to steady her nerves. "A youko, a fox demon, had been shot in Makai, and he fled his body to come here."

Shiori-san gasped in horror. "My . . . my baby is possessed!?" she cried.

"No!' Botan said frantically, shaking her hands in front of her. "You see, well, um, this spirit invited the youko in. She must have been asleep when he got there, and he didn't force her out or anything. He did kind of re-arrange the body the way he wanted it, though. But then, this spirit woke up and fixed most of it--um, it was a little too late to change the gender again--and then saw that the youko was really badly hurt spiritually. So she . . . well . . . she . . . "

"Yes?" Tanaka-san prompted irritably.

"She merged with the youko and became part of him," Botan blurted. "Shuiichi--Kurama is what he calls himself, his youko name--is part human now. And completely your son, Shiori-san."

There was a long moment of silence. Shiori-san was utterly stunned and shocked. Her husband was in a similar state. As for Yuusuke and Kuwabara, they were stunned, as well--that Botan had told Kurama's secret.

Shuiichi-kun was the first to break the silence. "Cool!" he breathed. "My brother's a demon!"

Shiori-san started to laugh, a laugh tinged with hysteria. Tanaka-san put a hand on her shoulder steadyingly. "Shuu-kun," he said reprovingly. Shuiichi-kun grinned back unrepentantly. Yuusuke and Kuwabara rolled their eyes at each other, while Botan hoped that Shuiichi's comment had helped.

Shiori-san quieted after a bit. "So," she said with a quick sigh. "My son is--not completely human." She considered for a moment. "But--still my son." She clutched tightly at her husband's hand, however. "So . . . what--what's wrong with him, then?"

Botan hesitated, considering how to phrase it. Then she decided there really wasn't an easy way and blurted it out. "The female spirit--the 'Shuiichi' part--is trying to separate herself from Kurama again. She apparently thinks she's been mostly successful, but she's wrong. Completely, utterly wrong. And it's killing both spirits."

"Kill . . . !?"

Botan nodded. "They're destroying each other." There was a long silence. "And . . . and I--Koenma-sama and I--nobody knows what to do."

Yuusuke broke the silence this time. "Oy, Botan! You forgot some important stuff in that story!" he scolded.

"Nani!?" Botan demanded.

"Yeah, you forgot to tell about how Kurama became Reikai-tantei!" Yuusuke proceeded to tell a story that only vaguely resembled the truth. He was fairly clear on Kurama's actions, though. By the time he was done, the black despair had lifted from Shiori-san and Tanaka-san somewhat, and Botan was actively scolding him for a liar.

Koenma-sama sent for Botan again. She came in under five minutes. "Bad news, Botan," he said. He was in his teenaged form, a sign of how worried he was. "We're unable to find a way to reverse what's happening to Kurama without the active help of Se Kamia Dana Eisha Tara Nanami Shuiichi."

Botan wondered, in some corner of her mind, how Koenma-sama remembered all those names--each of the names the spirit currently in the body of Minamino Shuiichi had earned with her consecutive lifetimes. Then the whole thing came crashing down on her, and she burst into tears. "This is all my fault!!!!" she wailed.

"Oy, Botan, don't cry!" Koenma ordered uneasily. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was Botan crying. She didn't do it very often, fortunately. Unfortunately, this time, she couldn't stop. "It just means we've got to find out why she's fighting Kurama, that's all!"

Botan made an effort. She knew how much it bothered Koenma-sama to see her cry. It was something she had filed away for a future date. "B-But . . . there's no way . . . to get her attention!" she sniffled. "She's . . . too busy fighting . . . to listen!"

"Well, that's true," Koenma-sama admitted. "However, I'd be willing to be it has something to do with Na Edan Tobin Shima Doran Keichii. That's why George is bringing his file--hers is right here." He tapped a dictionary-thick manila folder on his desk just as the door burst open and George stumbled in with a matching folder. Amazingly, the oni managed to get it to the desk without incident. He kicked the trashcan over as he was leaving, though, and scrambled to pick it up after a glare from Koenma-sama.

"Ah!" Botan leapt to her feet, all traces of tears gone. "I'll be back!" she shouted over her shoulder as she ran out the door.

"Oy, Botan!" Koenma-sama cried, startled. He raised a hand as if to grab her back, though she was already too far away. "Where are you going!?"

"To find Sakura!" Botan called back, jumping on her oar in the middle of the outer office floor. Under ordinary circumstances, that would have gotten her severely punished, but she was away in a flash.

"But--!" Koenma-sama called, too late. "Sakura's been missing twenty years," he finished, sighing. "George, pick that up later--I have to keep up with my normal workload too, you know, or my father will have my head!"

George leapt to his feet and scurried out.

Botan hovered, unseen, over a section of Tokyo. <Okay, this is where Sakura and I paused before splitting up. It was still Keichii and Nanami then . . . we stopped to let them kiss good-bye one last time until they met as humans . . . chattered for about twenty minutes while they did it . . . I went this way.> She swooped down towards the park Shiori-san had been in. Then she returned to the same spot in mid-air. <Sakura would have gone this way . . . I think--yes. This is the way she would have gone, so she could check out the skyscraper that was being put up then.>

Botan veered past the skyscraper--it was condemned, she noticed with a shake of her head. <By now she would've been running just a little late, so . . . ah! Up-and-over! Her favorite.> She up-and-overed towards what had been Sakura's destination.

Halfway across the city, Hiei entered the Ningenkai, having finally escaped Mukuro's guards. He scowled; only the keenest eye would have detected the tinge of worry to it. That eye was currently in the hospital, and that was what was causing the worry.

Botan saw a something in the sky a split second before she hit and vanished without a trace.

Kurama fell back, his breath coming in huge, ragged gasps. He had blood running freely from over a dozen deep slashes all over his body, and one ear was almost completely missing. His opponent wasn't in much better shape.

"Why . . . are you . . . doing this!?" Kurama demanded. He hoped to distract Shuiichi-chan long enough to catch his breath, at least.

"I told you," Shuiichi-chan said shortly, trying to hide her own breathlessness. "I want something."

"But what do you want!?" Kurama demanded, frustrated. "Tell me . . . and I can . . . get it for you!"

"I want Beloved!" Shuiichi-chan snapped, shaking out her Rose Whip. She had other nasties, too, as Kurama had found out, but that seemed to be her favorite weapon.

Kurama straightened, blinking. "Beloved?" he said blankly.

Shuiichi-chan straightened, as well, apparently deciding to go with a short truce for a rest break. As she spoke again, her face softened and grew almost luminescent. "Beloved is my lover--in every lifetime," she explained softly. She gave Kurama a superior look. "But I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand."

For some reason, Kurama found himself filled with rage--a slow, burning fire that clouded his mind and drove away his fatigue. He was actually grinding his teeth as he leapt forward with a hoarse battle cry.

"Koenma-sama! Koenma-sama!" George burst into Koenma-sama's office, practically breaking the doors off their hinges.

"What the hell do you think--" Koenma-sama began, pushing himself up to stand in his chair. He was back in his familiar toddler form again.

"Botan's disappeared!" George cried, not even listening.

Koenma-sama's heart froze for an instant. Then he shook his head. "She probably just forgot her beeper again," he said firmly. "That still doesn't explain why you--"

"No! No! Koenma-sama, Masami from Dispatch was keeping an eye on her because she always does forget her beeper, and she just vanished! One second there, the next, gone! J-Just like Sakura!" George blubbered.

<Just like Sakura . . . > Koenma-sama echoed mentally. He sat heavily and buried his face in his arms for a moment. Then he whipped his head up and banged his small fists on the desk. "Find her!" he ordered at the top of his lungs. "Find her and get her back here! I don't care what it takes, get Botan back here!!"

George stumbled back out of the office, stunned. He picked himself up from the floor, where he'd tripped and fallen, and ran off at top speed to carry Koenma-sama's orders to everyone.

Botan tumbled wildly. She heard herself screaming and made herself stop. She didn't know where this chaotic, tumbling vortex was taking her, but it would undoubtedly take all her concentration when she got there.

The vortex spit the girl out less than a hundred feet above ice-covered rock. Botan instinctively yanked up on her oar. She managed to slow herself down just enough to survive the crash, but she tumbled end over ears and wound up on her back, battered and bruised. She lay there, stunned, for a long moment before sitting up with a groan.

<Oooh . . . ouch . . . that's gonna leave a mark . . . > Botan wiped blood from her split lip, wincing. She checked herself over carefully and discovered nothing broken, but lots of bruises. She was already getting stiff, but she hauled herself to her feet with a hiss and a groan. <I do not look my best, I'm sure,> she thought wryly.

Botan bent over to retrieve the remains of her oar and blinked. <I must've hit my head . . . > She picked up two oar heads. <Really hard. Either that, or . . . > She looked closer. One of the oar heads was plain and smooth--hers. The other was engraved with tiny cherry blossoms, all over. <Sakura landed here! But . . . did she . . . survive?> Botan scrambled to find any other signs of her long-lost fellow spirit guide.

The blue-haired girl sighed in relief when she spotted a small cairn of rocks decorated with a strip of weather-beaten mint-green silk embroidered with cherry blossoms. <She made it. That's from her kimono; I'd recognize it anywhere!>

Botan looked around and sighed. <But . . . which way did she go?> She picked a random direction and started walking. <This is as good a way as any, I suppose . . . Sakura, I hope you're okay!>

"How is he?" Hiei asked. Yuusuke, Kuwabara, and Shiori-san all jumped. Yukina--perched on the edge of the bed with her delicate hands on Kurama's temples--was too deeply entranced to notice.

"Che!" Yuusuke gasped dramatically. "Hiei! Don't do that!" Hiei scowled at him.

"Who . . . ?" Shiori-san asked. Kuwabara quickly explained--using words like 'shrimp' and 'jerk'--as Yuusuke and Hiei engaged in a glaring contest. Hiei won, of course, but then found himself unsettled by Shiori-san's thoughtful gaze. He scowled defensively.

"He'll make it through the night," Yukina suddenly said softly. She bowed her head in exhaustion. "That's all I can do for now. Gomen nasai, Shiori-san-sama." She looked up at Shiori-san, her eyes brimming. Shiori-san smiled abstractly and patted the Koorime girl's hand gently.

"Arigato, Yukina-chan," she said. "At least he has one more day . . . "

"It's that bad?" Hiei asked quietly. His expression didn't change a bit, but his wiry body was tenser than a guitar string.

"Hai," Yukina confirmed sadly. "Hiei-san, do you know what happened?" Hiei shook his head, so Yukina quickly filled him in. The young fire demon went very, very still, and his struggle to contain his emotions stained the air around him. His friends were, for once, respectfully silent.

"Where is Botan?" he asked finally.

"Gone," Koenma-sama's voice said quietly, hopelessly. Everyone jumped and spun to see him standing by the door in his teenaged form, his hands in his pockets and his head bowed. "She disappeared about half an hour ago--the same way Sakura did. There's . . . no trace of her anywhere."

Hiei frowned. "Did you check in Makai?" he demanded.

"She wasn't anywhere near a Makai portal," Koenma-sama explained.

"But I was coming here half an hour ago--through a weak spot in the Barrier," Hiei admitted warily. That sort of thing was looked down upon. Koenma-sama regarded him with puzzlement, not understanding the connection. Hiei growled, too impatient to explain, and went to perch on the window sill, folding his arms to glare out the window.

Shiori-san swallowed back her awe. "K-Koenma-sama?" she said faintly. Koenma-sama looked over at her and made an effort to smile. He walked over to pat her hand gently.

"We're doing everything we can," he assured her with more confidence than he really felt.

"Arigato . . . " Shiori-san said. "When Botan-san was here . . . she told me what--what happened twenty years ago--" Koenma-sama nodded. "This Sakura-san . . . did she . . . disappear . . . back then?"

"Hai," Koenma-sama confirmed, listening intently. The only sound in the room other than Shiori-san's gentle voice was Kurama's occasional whimper or moan. All eyes were focused on Shiori-san. The woman lowered her eyes self-consciously.

"Botan-san told me the youko who is now my son came here then. Would it--he--have come from Makai, or was he in this world already?"

Koenma-sama almost dropped his pacifier. "That's it, then!" he said excitedly. "Botan really has followed Sakura!" He snapped his fingers. "I'll get the search started right away! Be right back!" He vanished, leaving the last word to echo behind him as the small group celebrated quietly.

Shiori-san didn't join the conversation; nor did Hiei. Both of them just kept watch on Kurama as he tossed his fever-dewed face.

"GEORGE!!!!" Koenma-sama bellowed as soon as he reached his office. "GEORGE, GET IN HERE!!!!" George was halfway in the door before he even realized he was moving, and cowering before Koenma-sama's desk before he realized there had been a joyful note in his young boss' voice. "We've got a lead on Sakura and Botan--start checking Makai--everywhere! This has top priority!"

"B-B-B-But Koenma-sama--"

"MOVE!" Koenma-sama ordered, slamming his palms down on his desk. "We've got a deadline to beat, and I mean that literally! Paperwork can wait!" He narrowed his eyes. "And if my father has a problem with that, he can take it up with me!"

"H-H-H-H-H-Hai, Koenma-sama!" George managed to stutter out. He just about fainted at the thought of Enma Daioh-sama having a problem with it. He prayed fervently that he would survive this crisis. Then he blinked as he watched Koenma-sama stride around the office, gathering a few things up.

"If you get any information at all, contact me in Reikai. Yukina-chan can't help Kurama as much as she thinks--she'll need my help." Koenma-sama checked the hand-held two-way radio. "Testing."

"Hai, Koenma-sama?" the cheery voice of Masami in Dispatch said.

"Oh, good, it still works," Koenma-sama sighed in relief. "I thought the battery might've gone dead, it's been so long. Oy, Masami, I'll be in Reikai--you and George keep me informed!"

"Hai, Koenma-sama!" Masami replied. "Send that cutie on down here with your orders, and we'll get started right away." Koenma-sama grinned widely, and George, amazingly, blushed. "Masami out."

"Koenma, out," Koenma-sama replied, still grinning. He tucked the radio in his satchel with certain paperwork and a few other things. "Looks like you've got an admirer, Saotome-kun," he teased. George stuttered incoherently. Koenma-sama laughed and returned to Reikai.

Botan stumbled wearily onward. She didn't know how long she'd been walking. A cold fog had sprung up; she worried because the shivering had stopped, and she couldn't feel her feet or her fingers. It had settled into a mindless routine--pick one foot up and put it in front of the other. Don't stop. Don't look around--concentrate on walking.

The blue-haired spirit guide stumbled into someone. With a startled squeal, she tumbled forward onto the frozen ground. She almost cried, letting out a little half-sob and pushing herself carefully to her hands and knees.

A delicate, chilly hand helped her stand. "A-Arigato . . . " she sniffled, wiping at her tears with her kimono sleeve. She winced as the oar head she had stored in that sleeve banged against the bruises on her stomach.

"Do itashimashite," a soft voice replied. "Are you injured? You don't look very good." Botan looked up . . . and then had to look down.

"Y-Yukina-chan!?" she gasped.

"Oh, you know my daughter?" the Koorime woman cried softly, clasping her hands together. Her face lit with hope; Botan had the feeling it was an expression long absent from her face. Looking closer, she could see age lines and sorrow on the woman's face. "How is she? Has she found her brother? Is she happy?" The woman paused. "Oh! Sumimasen! My name is Tsurara."

"B-Botan," Botan introduced herself, stuttering a bit. Tsurara bowed politely. Then she frowned.

"Is something wrong? You look very strange."

"I'm c-cold," Botan sniffled. "I've been wandering around in the snow and ice for hours and my kimono is only silk."

Tsurara looked puzzled. "Cold? What's cold?" she asked. Botan blinked, not knowing how to explain. "Oh!" Tsurara said snapping her fingers. "I remember now. Non-Koorime don't like these temperatures and get sick. Come on, I know someplace 'warm'." Tsurara pronounced the word as if she didn't really know what it meant. Botan hoped it really was 'warm' where they were going.

Hinageshi flew over the Makai landscape at an altitude she at least hoped was out of reach of most of the predators. She shivered. Makai was not her idea of the ideal vacation spot. Far too dangerous. But if Botan-san were here . . .

"Oy, Hinageshi! It's Masami--you there?" Hinageshi nearly fell off her oar. She hovered, sheepishly pulling her hand-held out.

"Hai, Masami-san, I'm listening."

"Be careful, hon. We've got some strange weather disturbances in your area. We can't have you shift your search pattern much, though. We can't miss any part of Makai!"

"Hai, Masami-san. I'll be careful. Arigato."

"Oh . . . we've got an actually comment from Hiei-sama!" Masami chuckled. "The great one has condescended to inform you that he's finished searching your area from the ground and is going back to Ningenkai." Masami paused. "In his words, 'I'm done; see ya.'"

"Oy, Masami-san, you make fun of him too much!" Hinageshi scolded half-heartedly. "He's a great Reikai-tantei. He even defeated Raigo single-handedly!"

"I know, I know," Masami replied. "But I still don't like his attitude. His pretty damned frigid for a fire demon!" There was yelling in the background--Hinageshi thought it sounded like Gorge's voice--and Masami came back with, "Can't chat anymore. Be careful. Reikai out."

"Hai. Arigato. Hinageshi out." Hinageshi tucked her radio away again and bit her lip. She hoped it wasn't a storm facing her. She had a hard enough time with Ningenkai storms, and a Makai storm was undoubtedly worse, just like everything else. <For Botan-san!> the girl thought firmly. <If she can hold out against Yakumo, then I can face one little storm for her!>

It wasn't a storm. Hinageshi found that out almost too late. She caught a glimpse of sheer rock just in time to veer up with a screech. The young spirit guide hovered uncertainly; it couldn't really be a floating island . . . could it?

<Ah! This must be the Floating Isle of Koorime!> she realized suddenly. <It's not on any of the search patterns; I'd better let Masami know I'm going in.>

The radio gave her only a blast of loud static when she tried to call in. Hinageshi bit her lip. <Well, it's technically within my search pattern. I'll do it!> She slipped silently closer, barely displacing the air around her.

Hiei entered Kurama's room on silent feet, his eyes searching instinctively for an enemy. No one was there, not even Shiori-san. Only Yukina--fast asleep in Shiori-san's chair. Hiei allowed himself a tiny smile and covered her very, very gently with a blanket. Then he went to perch on the bed beside Kurama.

His youko friend was still--too still. His pale skin was ashen now, and slicked with sweat from his fever. Hiei stroked Kurama's scarlet hair back gently, almost tenderly. "Kurama," he said in a voice barely above a whisper. That was all; he couldn't say anything else even with no one awake to hear it.

He slipped off the bed and half-crouched as footsteps approached. When he heard Koenma-sama's familiar voice, he straightened, but remained wary. The other voice, he decided after a moment, belonged to the ningen woman Kurama lived with.

"Arigato, Koenma-sama," Shiori-san said, stopping before her son's door. "I appreciate you taking the time to spend here with my son."

"Do itashimashite," Koenma-sama replied, stretching up to get the door. He'd quickly discovered Shiori-san was far more comfortable with him in his toddler form--and it didn't look so strange to have a pacifier, then. "Kurama has been a valuable asset to the Reikai-tantei, and he has become a personal friend, as well."

Shiori-san smiled and scooped the toddler before her up without thinking. She opened the door and carried him inside without noticing the incredulous, slightly embarrassed look on Koenma-sama's little face. Hiei, however, gave Koenma-sama what the toddler easily recognized as an amused look. Koenma-sama narrowed his eyes dangerously at the fire demon.

"Yukina's asleep," Hiei warned in a soft growl. Shiori-san nodded and settled in the room's only other chair with Koenma-sama on her lap. Hiei sat in the window nonchalantly, ostentatiously keeping his gaze out the window.

"Hinageshi! Hinageshi, please respond!" The mint-green-skinned oni waited a moment, then sighed and dropped her headset on the table. "It's no use, Saotome-san," she said. "She's not responding at all. She . . . she's disappeared, too."

George nodded somberly. "We'd better let Koenma-sa--"

"Masami-san!" the headset squawked loudly. Masami snatched it up eagerly.

"Hinageshi!?"

"Hai! Important news--I've found Botan-san; we're going straight to Ningenkai! Tell Koenma-sama to expect us!" Hinageshi replied.

Masami had some trouble keeping her voice steady for a response. She just wanted to scream in sheer joy. "Hai, Hinageshi-hon! I'll tell him right away! Masami, out!" She switched frequencies without waiting for Hinageshi's response. The entire Dispatch office was dead silent. "Koenma-sama, this is Reikai. Come in."

"Hai, Masami. This is Koenma. Go ahead."

"Sir, Hinageshi is headed your way. With an extra passenger."

"Extra--!? Botan!?"

"Hai, sir! They'll be there in . . . " Masami checked the radar report. " . . . five minutes!"

Koenma-sama let out a whoop and was shushed quickly on the other end. "Hai! We'll be ready! Koenma, out!"

"Reikai, out," Masami responded. She tore off her headset and rose quietly, her back to the room. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. She turned slowly . . . and echoed Koenma-sama's whoop with a scream of pure joy. "Botan's back!!"

The entire office burst into loud cheers. Bets were paid off, and "I knew she'd make it!" bounced back and forth from voice to voice. Several oni broke out bottles of sake for the occasion.

Masami threw her arms around George's neck and gave him a resounding smack on the lips.

Kuwabara grumbled to himself as he walked slowly into the hospital. He absolutely hated seeing Kurama in his current condition--which might even be worse by now. He shuffled up the stairs, hoping Urameshi and Keiko-chan were there, too. At least then he'd have a little conversation, instead of hovering over Kurama worriedly.

He heard a muffled whoop from Kurama's room. Hope welled up in his heart. Could it be . . . !? He instinctively reached out to touch Kurama's aura. It was the same as ever and his spirits plummeted. Damn. He brushed past the other auras in the room out of habit . . . and found the reason for the whoop.

The door slammed open. "BOTAN!!" Kuwabara cried joyfully, scooping the blue-haired spirit guide up in a huge bear hug. Botan winced.

"Kuwa-chan . . . I can't breathe!" she gasped.

"Gomen," Kuwabara mumbled, setting her on her feet. He was grinning from ear to ear. Botan straightened her too-small ice blue kimono breathlessly.

"I feel like a bottle of cheap beer!" she complained. "All it needs is--"

"BOTAN!?" Yuusuke flew threw the door and picked Botan up to swing her in a circle. Botan shrieked faintly as her kimono threatened to flare up past her thighs. Then Yuusuke almost dropped her as Keiko hit him over the head with a notebook.

"Put her down, you oaf!" the girl commanded. Yuusuke obeyed, but only so he could turn to glare at Keiko. Keiko waved a hand dismissively at him and walked over to Botan. Yuusuke was left staring, open-mouthed, as Keiko hugged Botan gentilely. Botan smiled and returned the hug. "I'm glad you back!" Keiko said.

"Arigato, me, too," Botan responded. Then she had to hug Yukina, too, and even Shiori-san. Hinageshi stayed over by the window, out of the way, glancing nervously at Hiei. Hiei pretended not to notice, but he wondered silently at her sudden tension around him.

"What the . . . ?" Tanaka-san said from the doorway, open-mouthed. His son blinked and started counting people.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine . . . wow! It's a party!" the boy said. "Hey, are we invited, too? Did 'Niichan wake up?"

"Gomen, Shuu-kun," Shiori apologized. "He's still unconscious. It's just that Botan-san has returned."

"Oh, cool! So you can help my brother now, right?" Shuiichi said, beaming at Botan. Botan dropped her gaze, fidgeting a bit.

"Hai . . . " she responded uncertainly. "I . . . I think so."

"Oy, everyone settle down!" Koenma-sama commanded sharply. The room immediately fell silent. "Botan, tell us what you found out."

"Hai, Koenma-sama," Botan replied. She took a quick breath. "I was re-tracing Sakura's path twenty years ago, to see if I could find out what happened to her. And . . . I did. I don't know quite how, but a wild Portal to Makai appeared en route. It spit me out, and I crash-landed at the same spot Sakura had. I found the remains of her oar and also a small cairn with a piece of her kimono on it.

"I didn't know which way to go, but fortunately, I picked the right way. A long time later--" Botan said it as if it had been years, rather than just under four hours since her disappearance. "--I ran into someone. Literally."

Koenma-sama narrowed his eyes and sucked thoughtfully on his pacifier. He could tell Botan was hiding something, but what . . . He looked over to see Hinageshi shifting nervously and darting occasional furtive glances at Hiei. His eyes widened. <Couldn't be . . . >

"It--it was a Koorime," Botan said hurriedly. "This is her spare kimono I'm wearing, because mine was torn beyond repair. She took me to a cave with a warmth spell on it. There I found--Sakura's notebook."

"Go on," Keiko urged. Botan shifted uneasily.

"It seems . . . it seems that Keichii--the spirit she was guiding--was badly traumatized by the Portal and the crash. Sakura wasn't in very good shape, herself. So . . . she . . . she found out that a Koorime woman was having--twins."

Hiei stiffened.

"That was the last entry in her notebook. I asked my guide about it . . . her name is Tsurara."

"'Kaasan!" Yukina exclaimed, surprised.

Botan shot a nervous glance sideways at Hiei. "She said there was only one woman to have twins in the past two hundred years--herself." Botan took a deep breath. "She said she named them Yukina and Hiei," she blurted, barely pausing between words. "Sakura is in one of you and Keichii the other," she rushed to get in, squeezing her eyes shut in expectation of a blow from Hiei.

It never came. Hiei stayed exactly where he was, staring out the window. Botan peeked one eye open, then blinked. It took her a moment to see the tension so great in Hiei's body that he literally couldn't move.

"Oy," Koenma-sama said sharply. He was kneeling on the bed next to Kurama, looking intently into the boy's face. "Botan! Take Yukina and Hiei out of their bodies--find Keichii, fast! There isn't much time left!"

"H-Hai!" Botan squeaked.

"The rest of you wait in the hall," Koenma-sama ordered. "Hai, you, too, Shiori-san." Shiori-san closed her mouth with a snap and bit her lip. Tanaka-san put an arm around her shoulders and drew her into the hall as Hinageshi helpfully shoo'd Kuwabara and Yuusuke out, with Keiko's aid. ::I'll buy you as much time as I can, Botan,:: Koenma-sama told the spirit guide telepathically.

Botan closed her eyes and took a deep breath as Koenma-sama started to pour as much reiki into Kurama as he dared. ::Let go of your bodies,:: she told Hiei and Yukina. ::Koenma-sama and Hinageshi and I will take care of you.::

Botan opened her eyes to a featureless multi-colored place. Hiei and Yukina stood before her solemnly. Botan took a calming breath and spoke without using her voice. This was a special place where a spirit guide could bring certain spirits to help them recover their spiritual memories. She only hoped it would be enough.

Yukina. Hiei. These are your names in life. Your memories are far older, however, she told them gently. I'm going to help you recover the memories that pre-date your current lives.

Yukina nodded immediately. Hiei just regarded Botan with unblinking ruby eyes.

Both of you lie down, please, Botan requested. The Koorime twins obeyed silently. Botan moved to stand between them with a thought, placing a hand on each of their temples. Think back. Remember. Your lives are reversing before you. Think back to your earliest living memories.

Flashes of memory--some sweet, some bitter--ran through Botan's mind, too quickly to really be seen. Good. Go further, back to the time of birth. The birth trauma, identical and seen through two sets of eyes, a double memory, made Botan flinch. She forced herself to stay steady, however. Very good. Can you remember your time in your mother's womb?

Little games and sweet innocence flashed by Botan's eyes, quick snatches of infants in perfect harmony, hearts beating as one. She felt tears in her eyes at the cruel separation that had come to them later. She quickly shut that away; she had to concentrate.

There is a great darkness before that. Go into it, she instructed. She felt Yukina and Hiei hesitate. I'll be here with you, she soothed. She was expert at this; that was why she was Reikai's top spirit guide. With a gentle push, she forced the twins into the pre-life darkness. Keep going. You'll come out of it soon.

Hiei stopped, confused. Yukina burst forward into the light. Under Botan's gentle hand, her form shifted to that of a slender golden-haired girl of medium height and a slight form. Botan released her immediately. Sakura? she questioned.

Botan! the other responded. Is it really you? Botan nodded.

Sakura, what's wrong with Hiei?

He was traumatized badly, Botan. He lost all his spiritual memories. I had to carry him to the Koorime village and push him into his body. I was afraid for a long time that I'd lose him.

Botan took a deep breath and looked into Sakura's lavender eyes. We'll have to force him to remember, she said. Sakura looked shocked. I know, it goes against the grain, but--you have Yukina's memories, you know what's happening to Shuiichi-chan!

H-Hai . . . I know . . . Sakura replied uncertainly. Botan held out her hand, and Sakura took it after a moment. How?

Leave it to me, Botan said determinedly. Just lend me all the power you have. Sakura nodded, putting her hand on Botan's shoulder. Botan put both her own hands on Hiei's forehead, over his Jagan. Hiei . . . keep going, she commanded forcefully.

I can't! There's nowhere to go! Hiei snarled back. Botan/Sakura gave him a hard shove. He stumbled forward a few steps.

Remember! Botan/Sakura said. Remember your love! Remember all your lives together! You must--or she'll be destroyed! Hiei stumbled forward again uncertainly, seeing a glimmer of light. That's right! Botan/Sakura exulted. Go that way! Remember!

Hiei broke into a run, heading straight for that light. Botan/Sakura followed him all the way, urging him to greater speeds. Then, with a triumphant shout, he burst into the light . . . and remembered.

Six lifetimes to add to the current one, all of them filled with her.

My love!!! he cried fiercely.

She needs you! Botan/Sakura called urgently. Hurry!

I come! He responded sharply. Botan and Sakura broke off their bond with each other and with him. Botan opened her eyes and looked over at Sakura.

We . . . did it, she gasped out. Sakura nodded, wiping her brow with her face.

Mm-hmm. He'll remember not to be afraid now? Sakura half-said, half-asked. Botan nodded. Then it's time to go back.

Hiei opened his eyes and looked over at Botan and his sister. "You know what to do?" Botan asked softly. Hiei nodded solemnly and walked over to Kurama slowly. Koenma-sama shifted to accommodate him . . . and Hiei leaned down and kissed Kurama deeply.

::My love!:: he called. ::My love, come back to me!::

Shuiichi-chan was looking a lot worse for the wear. Her hair was mostly torn out, and her clothes were in shreds. She was bleeding from more wounds than she could count . . . but she wasn't about to give up. Kurama was in at least as bad a shape as she was.

Kurama's rage had been used up hours ago. Now he was just determined to live, to out-do this girl before him, to force her out and keep the body for himself. He repeated over and over to himself, Ungrateful bitch! Unnamed whore! It kept him going, at least.

My love!

Shuiichi-chan and Kurama both stopped dead. "Hiei . . . " Kurama whispered incredulously, recognizing the voice.

"Beloved!" Shuiichi-chan cried happily.

My love, please stop fighting! Hiei begged. You're destroying yourself--you can't break our vow! I won't let you!

"But--"

PLEASE!!

Shuiichi-chan lowered her weapons. She let the Rose Whip slide out of her fingers; it vanished before it fell more than three inches. "All right, Beloved," she responded softly.

Kurama wrapped his arms around himself, glaring fiercely at Shuiichi-chan. He suddenly knew where that rage had come from. Jealousy. Pure, unadulterated jealousy. It wasn't fair! The one being he'd ever loved with all his being . . . was in love with someone else! Worse, it was himself! Well, he wasn't going to let her have him, even if it meant his own destruction!

Kurama . . . Hiei's voice whispered joyfully.

Kurama gasped, his golden eyes widening. He whipped his head up, startled, and met Shuiichi-chan's jade gaze. "I guess he likes us as a youko after all," the girl said in a small voice. Kurama blinked. "G-Gomen nasai. I--I thought he didn't love me because of you."

"Daijobu," Kurama forgave her. He could completely understand that, after all. He had just experienced it himself. He held out his hands to her.

Shuiichi-chan took them, and they both vanished.

Kurama's fingers twitched. His hand slowly raised itself to rest weakly on Hiei's back. His jade eyes opened slowly as Hiei drew back. The fire demon blinked in astonishment; the deep jade was now flecked lightly with gold.

"Arigato, Kami-sama!" Koenma-sama prayed fervently, looking up at the ceiling. He wiped sweat from his brow and settled back against the wall. He intended to take a nice, long nap there . . . but Botan had other plans. She scooped him up and swung him in a circle, then hugged him tightly. Koenma-sama almost wound up with a nosebleed, thanks to that undersized kimono.

"Oy, Kurama!" Yuusuke cheered, starting forward. Then he choked loudly as he ran into his own collar. "K-Keiko! I gan't breave!" he gagged. Keiko hauled him back out of the room as Kurama's family rushed in.

"Shu . . . no, it's Kurama, isn't it?" Shiori-san said. Kurama's eyes widened, and he swallowed thickly.

"'Kaasan, I--"

"Daijobu," Shiori-san assured him gently. She leaned forward to kiss his forehead gently. "I understand why you didn't tell me. Forgive Botan-san, please? She only told us to save your life."

Kurama darted a look at Botan, who dropped her own eyes and hugged Koenma-sama tighter. Koenma-sama passed out briefly. "Hai," Kurama said, smiling at the spirit guide. "Arigato, Botan-chan." Botan's answering smile was like the sun coming up.

Hiei sat on the edge of the bed with his arms folded. Kuwabara suddenly remembered why he was supposed to be angry at the fire demon this time and shouted, "Oy! Hiei! You jerk, how dare you not tell Yukina-san the truth!?"

"Kazuma-san," Yukina said, her soft voice laced with steel. Kuwabara blinked, stunned. Yukina had never used that tone before. Yukina smiled at him gently and patted his hand. "Arigato, Kazuma-san, but it's all right."

Hiei regarded Yukina nervously, though it hardly showed. He watched as his twin walked over to stop in front of him. "We have a lot to talk about," she said gravely. "Ototosan."

Hiei swallowed. Twice. He told himself the stinging in his eyes was just from the dust in the air. "Hai," he replied softly. "Oneechan."

"B-Botan, I think we should get back to work!" Koenma-sama gasped as soon as Botan let up on her hug enough for him to get his face out of her bosom. Keiko had to clap a hand over Yuusuke's mouth to quiet his loud laughter at the dazed, slightly frantic look in Koenma-sama's eyes.

"Eee!" Botan squealed. "I have to change first!!"

"Hai!!" Koenma-sama agreed fervently. Botan dropped him on the floor and glared.

"You don't like my clothes!?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

"They're not yours," Koenma-sama pointed out, standing up and dusting himself off. "They--they don't fit properly!"

"You're so mean sometimes!" Botan wailed as the pair faded back to Reikai.

"Don't cry!!" Koenma-sama wailed back.

"Oy, 'Niichan, how soon before you can do some demon stuff?" Shuiichi-kun demanded eagerly. Kurama laughed. In the middle of his laugh, he yawned hugely. Shiori-san laughed and ruffled his hair.

"I think someone needs some sleep," she teased.

"'Kaasan!" Kurama protested, smoothing his hair back with both hands. Shiori-san kissed his forehead again and shoo'd everyone else out. Yukina dragged Hiei off for some ice cream and a long talk. Keiko dragged Yuusuke off to scold him. Kuwabara followed Yukina and Hiei to keep an eye on them both.

"Oyasumi, obbochan," Shiori-san said with a smile.

Kurama smiled as he drifted off to a peaceful night's sleep.

George was happy. Botan was back--and George had won the office pool on when she and Koenma-sama would finally get together. Kurama and Hiei were together and their families had learned and accepted the truth. The mystery of Sakura's disappearance had been solved. Enma Daioh-sama was pleased with the way things had turned out. And George had a date with Masami after work.

Now if only the paperwork weren't so backlogged . . .