Each chapter is (for the most part) going to be from a different character's POV and how they're affected by the tragedy. Everyone deals with death in a different way, after all.

This is the prologue, so it's a bit short and mostly from Kurama's POV.

Rated T for strong language and violent images.

Please review, let me know what you think, and enjoy!

"Alright, I'm a bit tipsy," Kurama admitted to the Spirit Detective, grinning shyly.

"Just tipsy?" Yusuke chuckled. "You chugged my entire bottle of vodka before I could even touch it, and you're just tipsy? Any normal human would be dead."

"Well, I'm not a normal human."

After a long week at work, Kurama craved time to spend with Yusuke. In fact, hanging out together had become their weekly ritual. Yusuke could complain about what a nag Keiko was and Kurama could finally relax. The past week flashed in Kurama's mind. He finally received the promotion he was climbing for and fired his lazy co-worker. It was a successful week, and what better way to celebrate than get drunk with Yusuke? Of course, for Kurama, getting drunk meant at least two liters of pure vodka.

"Very true," Yusuke smirked, as he Kurama's hair. As his hand shook the red-head's hair, the world tumbled around Kurama. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Just going to get more booze--I gotta get wasted too, y'know!"

With that, the Spirit Detective slipped into the deli, leaving Kurama outside by himself. Well, not really by himself. It was nearly two in the morning, but people were still wandering the streets. Tokyo's night life impressed Kurama more every day. Lights seemed to pop up from the ground, growing as the nights passed by.

A group of drunks rushed by Kurama, laughing amongst themselves. Secrets in the night whispered around Kurama as he stood in the middle of the sidewalk, inhaling deeply. Tokyo's air wasn't pure, but as it stung Kurama's nose, it reminded him he was alive. His entire body pulsed as the alcohol rushed through his veins. Still, Kurama embraced the city life around him. He shoved his hands in his pockets and threw his head back, smiling up at the starless sky. He wished every night could be like this.

It was a perfect moment, remaining loyal to his night.

Footsteps approached the red-head as Kurama closed his eyes. They were loud, fast paced--normal for the city. Then they stopped. Quite close to Kurama in fact. The drunk fox opened his eyes and squinted. He couldn't make out the figure, since he lay back in the shadows. Kurama shrugged it off. He sensed no danger, and this man certainly wasn't a demon. Besides, he wouldn't let his fears ruin his night. He turned away from the figure, glancing into the deli for Yusuke.

Suddenly, he heard a clicking sound. The familiarity of the noise was from movies. The alcohol spread through Kurama made the connection between the noise and what it meant too late. He stiffened and before he could even turn fully back to the man--

BANG.

Something pierced his rib cage. A grunt leaked from Kurama's throat as he felt his human body stumble backwards. He tried to grab something, but the ground welcomed him as he fell on his knees, clutching his rib. The impact shattered his bones and the cacophony rattled his ears.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The gun bellowed as it spat bullets at Kurama. Every inch of the red-head singed as bullets tore through his skin. The seconds felt like weeks as Kurama watched each piece of lead fly towards him, piercing his body wherever they pleased. They struck his arm, his chest, his gut, his thigh, his shoulder, even his cheek.

Then, Kurama was falling. His human body succumbed to the pain that lashed through his body. One last shot--right in the back of his neck. The blow crushed every nerve in Kurama's body, and suddenly there was no more pain.

And all at once, the man disappeared.

Yusuke had made his way towards the door as soon as he heard the first shot. But, even as he'd dashed for the door, more were fired. One after the other…and then there was an eerie silence. The deli door flew open and Yusuke lay his eyes upon the horror.

Kurama's body was torn, blood pouring from every corner. It leaked onto the pavement, forming a small river running down the sidewalk. The boy was disheveled, like a rag doll tossed on the floor. Kurama's nice, white t-shirt was shredded across his back. The blood from his neck pulsed out with a piece of vertebrae protruding. The red-head's lifeless hair stuck to his bloody neck, practically a perfect match.

Yusuke collapsed in front of his friend, turning him onto his back slowly. Tears stained Kurama's pretty emerald eyes and soft cheeks. The Spirit Detective's hands trembled as he tried to cover up the worse wounds, but it was no use. He started to feed Kurama spirit energy as his hands engulfed the red-head's body.

"Oh God, Kurama!" Yusuke wailed. "Don't die on me!"

Kurama smiled weakly, trying to regain his energy. But it was draining fast--and so was his blood. His friend's warm spirit energy penetrated his body, and Kurama immediately welcomed it. But as the seconds wore on, the spirit energy no longer helped. Yusuke immediately sensed it too as Kurama watched horror seep into his expression.

"Yu-Yusuke," Kurama barely got his words out. The hole in his throat made them inaudible to human ears, but he hoped Yusuke heard. "I-I'm glad I met you."

It was too late for Kurama. He wanted to fight, but he couldn't even move his fingers. In fact, he didn't know if he had fingers left. Yusuke sobbed as Kurama was overwhelmed with acceptance.

His life flashed before his eyes, revealing every moment that brought him joy, pride and even sadness. He saw his beautiful human mother, and the members of Team Urameshi's smiling faces when they won the Dark Tournament. Visions from his past demon life appeared as he reminisced about the beauty of Makai behind a thief's eyes. Triumph overwhelmed him as he thought about the moment he killed Karasu, and fear when Karasu's masked face entered his mind. And then…Kurama saw Hiei's face. The fire demon's crimson eyes branded his memory, as well as his heart. Even though he hadn't seen his ex-lover in two years, Kurama wished every night Hiei would come back. Pain entered his soul as he thought about the fire demon's burning hatred towards him. And all at once, thoughts of the deceased crossed his mind and that he would see them soon; Genkai, his grandparents, and even Kuronue. Suddenly, his negative thoughts of Hiei slipped away and was overwhelmed with happiness.

It was okay to die…it happened to everyone, even demons. If only Kurama could smile to show Yusuke that everything was okay.

"Please," Yusuke begged. "Kurama."

He felt himself slipping away from his body. There was no sadness in his soul, only joy. Every second Kurama felt more at peace with his fate. He wasn't angry at the stranger or the Gods. But he wanted so bad to reach out and comfort Yusuke. It would be okay, his thoughts shouted triumphantly.

Ambulance's and cop cars rushed down the street, wailing as Yusuke watched his friend fall into darkness.

"Kurama…" Yusuke trembled as he brought the limp body against his chest in an embrace. The police jumped out of the cars, along with the medical responders, running to the two boys.

"Come on, son," an older man touched Yusuke's arm as he cradled his friend frantically. Yusuke shook his head as men tried to pull him apart from the red-head, but Yusuke refused to budge. The warm, sweet smell of blood penetrated his nose, stinging his senses, but he just dug his fingers tighter into the limp body.

"No," Yusuke moaned. "No, no. Fuck off, leave me alone." His words weren't incoherent, but he kept grieving, attempting to comfort himself with the sound of his own voice. It didn't help.

Kurama's body was so cold against Yusuke's…

Finally, he was pried apart from his dead friend. He couldn't watch as they tried to resuscitate him. It was no use, just false hope…Yusuke felt as if his world was falling apart, cracking onto the sidewalk he was kneeling on. The older police man tried to comfort the hysterical Spirit Detective, but he didn't even notice there were other people surrounding him and Kurama.

"Good-bye," Yusuke choked.