Vardoulacha Chapter 1: Pain I, a yu yu hakusho fanfic

12.23.03

A/N: Another YYH fic! Truth be told, this idea bloomed in my head while I was experiencing some pain. This is how this certain story was made. Dunno how it's going to turn out, dunno what's going to happen. I just expect that it'll just come along…

Shadow: You put too much faith in this.

Schizo13: Don't care. Oh, and I don't know whether Hiei has tear gems or not, but because he should be part Koorime, I decided to stick him with tear gems. He probably doesn't, but I wanted him to have at least some evidence that he was born a Koorime so since I really don't want to turn him female, I gave him the tear gems. Sorry if Hiei is OOC, but that's how the story goes. Wouldn't anybody be OOC if terrified beyond belief?

Abc: thoughts

Abc: in replace of Italics. That means, bold means emphasizing.

[…]: Referral to something/someone

DISCLAIMER: I don't own YYH.

Vardoulacha

Hiei ran. Pain flared up in his right shoulder blade but he kept on running. The pain was great yet bearable. He vainly tried to remember why he was hurt. The answer eluded him like a snake. The only clues to his injury were the pain that would occasionally flare up but never disappear. Accidentally jarring his shoulder, Hiei arched his back as he gasped.

"Ah!" Hiei stumbled slightly as pain blocked his other senses and his vision swam.

His breaths coming in gasps due to the pain, he ran harder, swifter, faster than ever. All he knew was the pain in his back and the terror in his mind. What had happened?! Why am I hurt? What am I running from? Why can't I remember anything? All he knew was to keep on running, just keep on running. Nowhere was safe; nowhere here was safe. The only safe place was home…home, a place so far away and unknown.

Somebody please help me!

Looking ahead, all Hiei saw were blurs. Feeling a powerful something open a few feet ahead, Hiei frantically ran towards the power source, relieved to find a portal.

Please, somebody help me! Was Hiei's last desperate thought as he jumped through a portal back to the Ningenkai.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somebody please help me!

The Spirit Detectives jerked up when they heard a distant, terror, and pain-filled mental cry fill their minds. Koenma, Shizuru, Yukina, and Botan had also jerked their heads up in surprise. What in the world?!

Looking anxious, Keiko asked, "What's wrong? Did you hear something?" The others didn't reply, looking more drawn and worried by the minute. Nobody could place that cry in his or her minds. It was so familiar but the pain and terror covered up the identity of the person.

Please, somebody help me!

Gasping, Keiko stood up among the others. This time, she too had heard it. All around, people had stopped moving, birds had stopped chirping. Everything and everyone had stopped. Instead, a tense silence filled the entire place. Apparently, everybody had heard that cry this time. This time, the cry had been more panicked and scared, but it was a lot louder and, evidently, closer.

"What was that?!" Were the whispered questions to each other. People were scared, scared and worried for themselves and for the person who had called for help.

"Damn it! I can't trace him/her/it! Koenma, anything?" Yusuke asked furiously. Straining out his senses, Yusuke searched again for that mysterious person but found nothing. Distractedly, Koenma shook his head. He too was looking for the person. "Guys? Anything?" The response was the same: no, nothing.

Where are you?! Yusuke mentally shouted. We want to help!

~~~~~~~

Hiei's eyes darted around the area, ensuring the fact that no one was around. Curling in upon himself, he gasped as pain sliced through his body, cutting him short of breath. Whimpering, Hiei carefully adjusted his body so that his shoulder blade was in a position that would receive no pain. Why am I so scared? Why?! As the shadows seemed to press around him, Hiei closed his eyes tightly and drew even further in on himself. Suddenly, he heard a mental cry.

Where are you?!

So familiar…but who? Hiei struggled to place the voice but all in vain.

We want to help!

We? Who's "we"? A headache forming, Hiei tried even harder to remember. He had a distinct feeling that if he didn't remember, then he would be lost, perhaps forever. Pulling his scarf tightly around him, he noticed a spreading red stain on the once whiteness of the fabric.

Blood…but from where? Gingerly feeling around his body, his hands rested upon his neck where a small, but deep cut was bleeding. Have to stop the blood… Carefully, Hiei tightly tied his scarf around the wound, temporarily stopping the blood flow. Releasing his scarf, Hiei looked down at his hands, noticing the shining red blood. Red…red…the color…it's familiar…red…fox…Kurama! All at once, Hiei's memories started rushing back in. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Yukina, Koenma, Kurama, and all the others. Feelings of caring, happiness, togetherness, bombarded his senses as his memories of his life and friends were released from the mental block. Yet, one thing remained a mystery. Why had he been running? What happened? Those questions remained to be answered.

Kurama! Yusuke! Hiei screamed in his mind as he felt shadows pressing all around him. Pain cut through his body, again shorting him of breath. Gasping, silent tears began rolling down his pale face.

Please help…Kami-sama please help. Please help me…Please help…help me….somebody…help… Hiei's eyes glazed over as he unconsciously repeated his pleas for help repeatedly in his mind. As his body slowly shut down from pure exhaustion, his mind refused to let him fall into the darkness that was threatening to overcome him.

Help…

~~~~~~~~

Kurama!

With a start, Kurama lurched forward as memories started to fill his mind. With a cry, the others too fell forward as memories sprinted through their minds. However, they weren't their memories, they belonged to another person. Gasping, sweat trickled down their foreheads as the memories came to an abrupt stop, only to be replaced with a panic-stricken cry.

Kurama! Yusuke!

Eyes widening in recognition, the Spirit Detectives, Koenma, and Botan were finally able to place a name with the voice.

"Hiei!" Yukina, Keiko's, and Shizuru's eyes widened as shock settled in.

Hiei? But why does he sound so desperate! Something must be wrong.

"Where-" Kurama was cut off as Hiei's voice filled their minds again.

Please help…Kami-sama please help. Please help me…Please help…help me….somebody…help…

Hiei! We're trying! Where are you! Hiei?! The others thought frantically as they chased a dying ki signature.

Help…

NO!!! HIEI!!! The others sped up as they felt Hiei's ki signature disappear. The only thing helping them was the repeated pleas for help, but even those were fading. It was obvious that Hiei was in great trouble, so great that his mind was calling for help even as his body lay unconscious.

Thrashing through undergrowth, the others all came to a stop as a powerful presence engulfed the area.

The hell?

"What's going on? Where's Hiei? I don't see him anywhere!" Kurama shouted, desperately trying to find his friend.

"I don't know! This presence…it's Hiei's dragon! I don't get it! His dragon is out, but not in body form. It's like a wall that's protecting him! Damn it, LET US THROUGH YOU STUPID DRAGON!" Yusuke shouted furiously. All at once, the presence disappeared only enough to let them through to his fallen master.

"Oh God, Hiei!" Kurama gasped as he knelt down by his comatose-like friend. Keiko and Botan turned their faces away, unable to look at the small demon.

Hiei's eyes were open, but glazed over and his scarf was stained completely red. He was curled into a tight small ball, like a child who is terrified of something. The worst was his face. His normally tan face was pale, so pale, and so cold. His natural heat that came from his being a fire demon had gone. Instead, his skin was icy to the touch and the air around him was ice cold. His visage, usually indifferent if not slightly cynical, had been twisted into a mask of terror, panic, and hopelessness. As Kurama ran shaking hands over Hiei's prone form, searching for injuries, he felt wetness on Hiei's face.

Tears?

"Tears?" Kurama repeated out-loud. Hiei was crying? Feeling the grass, darkened by shadows, beneath Hiei's head, he felt tear gems in a small pile. Picking them up, he quickly deposited them in his pocket. He couldn't let Yukina know about them or else she'd find out.

"Tears? What do you mean by that?" Yusuke asked, dropping to his knees on the other side of the fallen fire demon.

"Exactly what I said. Hiei had been crying."

Bewildered, Yusuke lifted his head to look at Kurama's red hair. "Crying? Hiei never cries! I swear I will kill whoever did this to him! Why can't we feel ki?"

"I don't know…Hiei, wake up! Please!" Kurama begged, gently shaking his friend. Tears of frustration and fright gathered in his eyes when no response came from Hiei. Distantly, he felt someone else kneel beside him and place hands on Hiei, but he didn't turn to look who it was. All at once, the pleas for help stopped. Holding their breaths, the gang hopefully waited for a continuation of the incessant begging but silence reigned over.

"Hiei, don't you dare die on me!" Yusuke cried, roughly shaking the little ball of demon on the ground. The only response he received was a further tightening of the ball, a pain-filled grimace, and gasping.

"Hiei! Wake up! Onegai!" Kurama pleaded, as the plant he placed on Hiei's neck in order to close the wound worked.

"Hiei…please wake up…" whispered a quiet feminine voice. Swinging his head around, Kurama's eyes settled on a small bent over figure.

Yukina… Kurama thought. Hiei, you have to wake up. You can't die, not before letting Yukina know that you're her brother! Damn it all to hell, Hiei! Wake UP!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So cold…Where am I? Hiei slowly looked around himself. He was in a dark place. There was no light, no nothing. Kurama, where are you?

"…LET US THROUGH YOU STUPID DRAGON!" came a voice. Hiei looked around, hoping to find Yusuke. Only Yusuke would call his [Hiei's] dragon stupid. Hiei's eyes met with darkness. Strangely enough, the darkness had lifted a bit, but Hiei was too scared to notice. Again, he felt the terrible fear that had followed him through his mad dash through the Makai.

Someone find me…

"Oh God, Hiei!" All at once, Hiei began to hear Kurama's voice speaking nearby. Uncurling from his position, Hiei slightly raised himself off the non-existent floor, looking around for he red head. He was met with nothing but a purplish darkness. Hiei started when he felt someone roaming shaking hands over his body. They were gentle and soft hands, yet course from the use of a weapon. Kurama? The hands moved up to his face, where they lightly stroked one wet cheek.

Tears?

Kurama! Hiei shouted. Shocked, Hiei discovered that he had no use of his vocal cords.

"Tears?"

"Tears? What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. Hiei had been crying."

Crying? I was crying? Hiei gently felt his face and true enough, his face was wet.

"Crying? Hiei never cries! I swear I will kill whoever did this to him! Why can't we feel his ki?"

Kill? For me? But no one ever has…no one ever cared.

"I don't know…Hiei, wake up! Please!"

wake up? I'm not awake? Wake up…I have to wake up! Hiei suddenly felt someone gently shake him. Scrambling up, Hiei tried to reach towards where he felt someone enter his dark void, but to no avail.

"Hiei, don't you dare die on me!" Someone shook him harder this time. Pain shot through Hiei's body, more intense this time. Panicking, Hiei reached out and grasped nothing but air. Out! I need to get out of here! Oh, please help!

"Hiei! Wake up! Onegai!"

Kurama…I can't…I'm trying but I can't! What? What's happening? The pain in Hiei's neck had suddenly stopped and the cut disappeared. Kurama's plant…

"Hiei…please wake up…"

Yukina! All at once, he saw his chance to escape. His sister's quiet plea had given him a ladder, figuratively. Reaching out with his own ki, he flung it like a rope around his sister's ki-like-voice and was pulled up and off the ground. As he found himself trapped against the wall of his dark imprisonment, he heard Kurama's voice again.

Hiei, you have to wake up. You can't die, not before letting Yukina know that you're her brother! Damn it all to hell, Hiei! Wake UP!

That finally plea/command was the last thing needed for Hiei to complete his escape. A red rope of ki reached down, wrapped around Hiei, and pulled him up and out of the dark void.

~~~~~~~~~

"Hiei!" Kurama gasped happily as he noticed his friend's eyes unglazed. His happiness turned to shock, however, when the little fire demon swiftly uncurled from his tight ball position and leapt at him.

"What the!" Yusuke said as the body underneath his hands disappeared and reappeared around Kurama. Hiei was actually –hugging- Kurama!

"Hiei? What's wrong?" Kurama asked, as he gently rubbed Hiei's back.

Hiei didn't say a word as he closed his eyes and tears ran down his face. Burying his face deep into Kurama's shoulder, Hiei could not restrain himself from shaking like a leaf. Pain engulfed his right shoulder blade but he blindly tightened a grip around his friend, as if Kurama was the only thing keeping him from being consumed by the terror in his mind and around him.

Kurama's eyes widened as he felt his shoulder grow wet from Hiei's tears as Hiei's body began shaking.

"Hiei? Kami, what's wrong with him Kurama?" Yusuke asked Kurama as he noticed Hiei hugging Kurama like a lifeline.

"I don't know." Kurama tightened his hold on the little fire demon.

"Kuwabara, Shizuru, Koenma!" Yusuke snapped, turning narrowed frightened eyes on his friends.

"What?" the asked simultaneously.

"Do you feel anything? You're further away from Hiei so you're not as likely to feel his overwhelming terror and pain as I am."

Frowning in concentration, the three could not find anything.

"There's nothing, nothing at all."

"K'so! Kurama, let's get Hiei to the temple!" Yusuke ordered, standing up.

"Hai". Kurama stood up, fighting from dropping Hiei to the ground as he felt the little demon jerk in his grip from his sudden movement. "Hiei, it's okay. We're going to take you back to the temple. Just hold on, okay? We aren't going to let anything happen to you."

Kurama grew anxious as he saw terrified wide red eyes look into his own emerald eyes. He had never seen such scared eyes. Especially not in someone like Hiei. Whoever did this to Hiei is going to pay! Unbeknownst to him, the others were thinking the same thing as they each so Hiei's frightened red yes turn to each of them. Even sweet and gentle Yukina had a fierce look on her face as she protectively looked at Hiei.

"Let's go." Kurama said, as he saw Hiei tighten his grip on him, once more burying himself into Kurama's embrace like a young child. A pained expression crossed all their faces as they heard a small whimper escape Hiei.

"I will personally kill whoever did this to him!" Kuwabara swore, punching his fist into his hand as he raced across the ground towards the temple alongside the others.

"You'll have to wait in line-I have first dibs on the guy." Yusuke snarled, his eyes darkening as he imagined himself killing whoever terrified his friend so much. Kurama and Hiei had gone on ahead with Botan on her oar.

"I hope shorty is okay."

"Do you think he ever was when we first found him?" Yusuke asked snidely.

"Come on, Yusuke! Stop being so rude! We're also concerned about Hiei, okay? No need to take out your anger on the rest of us! Save it for whoever did this to Hiei!" Keiko snapped, glaring at Yusuke.

"Sorry. You're right. I'm not the only one who's concerned about him." Yusuke softened his gaze in apology as he looked at his orange-haired friend.

"It's no problem…but yeah, he was seriously messed up when we found him. And now he has to ride with Botan!"

"At least Kurama's with him. He can protect Hiei from, from IT, but from Botan? He's going to need to protect himself and Hiei."

"Unfortunately, it looks like Kurama is going to need everything he's got to protect Hiei from IT and from himself [Hiei]." Koenma gasped from his place beside Keiko in the back.

Yusuke hissed in frustration. "Damn, you're right."

"Less talking, more running. We have to get to the temple ASAP." Shizuru commanded as she miraculously speeded up. With equal degrees of determination, the others sped up and matched her speed as they neared the temple.

~~~~~~~~

In the temple, Kurama had been unable to disengage Hiei from his body and had sent Botan away to fetch the others because she was more of a hindrance than of an assistance.

"Hiei, you have to let go of me, I need to check your wound and I know this position is killing your arm." Kurama chided gently. Shocked red eyes looked up at his face and Kurama felt his heart twist painfully. What happened to you so that you'd be so scared and so unsure?

"Hiei, please! I have to check your neck wound and I know that you're in pain because of your arm."

"Not arm…no, not arm…shoulder blade…I don't know what happened to it…just hurts…can't move right arm much…it just hurts." Hiei mumbled, looking down at his lap. Hiei's vision swam as the pain in his shoulder intensified but he still refused to release Kurama. The thing Hiei wanted the most was to be near someone and nothing was going to relinquish his hold on Kurama. Except…

Hiei…

Black Dragon…

Release the youko.

I can't…
You can't or you won't? Don't be afraid, you're safe. Nothing can hurt you in this temple, especially since the youko and I are with you. Release him so he can examine your arm.

Kurama sighed as Hiei's grip seemed to tighten around him. Hugging Hiei, Kurama looked at the mass of black hair with a shock of white as he thought about his friend's odd behavior. Resting his chin on Hiei's head, Kurama unwillingly recalled Hiei's terrified face when he [Kurama] first found him [Hiei].

~*Flashback*~

~*End flashback*~

Kurama came back to the present when he felt Hiei slowly reluctantly remove his arms around his [Kurama's] chest. Not questioning Hiei's actions, Kurama picked Hiei up and sat him on the couch. Hiei didn't move a muscle except to turn his gaze onto the carpet. Before examining Hiei's shoulder blade, Kurama took a long look at his friend.

Hiei looked like a little boy who was about to be scolded by his mother for stealing some cookies. His small form belied his age and only served to make Kurama's impression truer. Hiei's head was down so his face could not be seen, his left arm was by his side, his hand clenched into a fist. His right arm and shoulder were lifted slightly, and held in an angle. Apparently, this lessened the pain Hiei was experience. His ankles were crossed and his legs were gently swinging back and forth. Kurama bit down on his lip as he reached around Hiei to check out his shoulder blade.

As he pressed down on different parts, he received no response until he finally hit a sensitive spot, causing Hiei to flinch and gasp in pain.

"Gomen! Daijoubu ka??"

No answer. Just the heavy breathing and tensing of Hiei's body was seen.

Oh Hiei… Kurama thought. Grasping Hiei's chin in his hand, Kurama gently tilted Hiei's face up so that he [Kurama] could see his [Hiei's] face. Surprised ruby eyes stared into his own eyes as Kurama searched Hiei's gaze for any familiar sign. There was nothing to be found. It was like the old Hiei had disappeared and was replaced with this…thing. Kurama badly wanted the old Hiei back.

Oh Hiei…

Kurama's two mentally spoken words echoed in Hiei's mind and when Kurama repeated his sentiment, Hiei grew annoyed. Shut up! A look of annoyance crossed Hiei's face and he scowled at the red head. Kurama, noticing a slight change in the cold atmosphere that had stuck with Hiei all the way to the temple, sharply looked up and was met with two annoyed red eyes.

"Stop it." Hiei commanded, scowling at Kurama. Emerald eyes widened in surprise and in relief. Then, Kurama frowned.

"Stop what?"

"Stop saying that!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You keep on going 'Oh Hiei', it's getting on my nerves…I can't stand it! There's too many voices, I just want some quiet." Hiei snarled, before a pained expression crossed his face.

"Sorry…too many voices? Hiei, what happened to your shields?" Kurama asked, as Hiei's last sentence hit home.

"Shields? I-I don't know…I don't remember…Why can't I remember anything?" Hiei again looked like a lost child, Kurama noticed unhappily.

At least the terror's gone.

"Urusai!"

Kurama flinched as he realized that he forgot to shield his thoughts.

"Gomen nasai. Demo…your shields, you have to erect them, Yusuke and the others are arriving soon."

A look of concentration settled on the little demon's face as he focused on raising his shields again. Worried, Kurama noted that Hiei looked like he was struggling. The atmosphere around the room was suddenly pushing against Kurama. Then Kurama remembered that Hiei's ki had disappeared.

Where is his ki?! This time, Kurama had remembered to shield his thoughts. There must be a ward on him…but where! His eyes roving over Hiei, he took in every article of clothing Hiei was wearing. Finally, his eyes alighted on a small silver youkai limiter on Hiei's ear. Growling, Kurama removed the limiter and destroyed it. At once, the cold air dissipated and heat burst out from the small fire demon. Eyes widening in surprise, Hiei's mental shields slammed back up with so much force, nearly knocking Hiei out. Gasping from the force of the re-erected shields and pain from his shoulder, Hiei slumped forward onto Kurama. At the same time, the temple doors opened with a bang.

"Hiei, Kurama!" came a loud shout as people charged in.

"In here, Yusuke!" Kurama called back as he frantically scanned Hiei for anything wrong.

What happened?!

"What happened?!" Yusuke asked breathlessly, unknowingly voicing Kurama's thoughts.

"I'm not sure, I found a youkai limiter on Hiei and after I destroyed it, this happened."

"He must've not been ready for his ki to come back. What was he doing when you destroyed it?"

"Oh! I can't believe I was so stupid! He was trying to re-build his mental shields. They were knocked down when whatever happened to him."

Voices…so many voices…scared…Kurama…where…

Kurama snapped his gaze back towards Hiei when he heard Hiei speak to him again, except in the voice they had all heard the first time Hiei called for help.

"Hiei, I'm right here. Open your eyes and look. The other voices are just the rest of the gang. Don't worry, you're not alone." Kurama assured, hugging Hiei. Weakly, Hiei grasped onto Kurama and his eyes slowly opened. Although he now knew who the others were, unexplained terror burst in his mind, drowning out sensible thought and common sense. Whimpering, Hiei buried himself into Kurama's embrace, like back in the forest.

"Oi! Hiei! It's just us, don't be afraid!" Yusuke said, rushing over to Hiei's side and hugging him. He felt Hiei stiffen up but instead of releasing him, Yusuke tightened his hold on the tiny fire demon. Slowly, some of the terror subsided but came back when he felt more people hug him. Whispered assurances were heard and as Hiei struggled to make sense of it all, he was able to grasp onto Yusuke's, Kurama's, and Yukina's voices. Using them as guidelines, he fought through his unreasonable terror and broke free from the grip of his mind. Violent trembling took over Hiei and he suddenly remembered something.

~*flashback*~

Hands all over him, trying to take his ki, trying to take his life. So many hands, so many demons, all was following this dark massive shape. Darkness threatening to overcome him but if he lets it take over, he'll never survive. He has to survive, has to survive to see his friends…his friends that have become his family…he has to survive.

~*end flashback*~

"Survive…I must survive…" Hiei whispered as his eyes glazed over. Frightened, Kurama hugged Hiei tighter to himself, as though in doing so, he would keep Hiei here, in the Ningenkai.

"Survive what, Hiei? What must you survive?" Yusuke asked, carefully looking at Hiei.

"Survive him…yes, survive him so I can see my friends…my friends that have become my family. I must survive him."

"Why did he have you?" Kurama asked quietly, looking into Hiei's glazed eyes.

"He wanted my power, he wanted what I had, but most of all, he wanted me." Anger surged through Kurama as it did through the others when Hiei mentioned what he wanted.

"Who is he?" Koenma asked, forcing his words to come out gently.

"I…I don't remember…I don't remember…" Hiei muttered. Why can't I remember?

"It's okay, you don't have to." Yusuke sighed disappointedly. So close to finding out who IT was and yet so far. At least we know it's a him, so that's good. Yusuke thought, giving himself a spark of hope.

Yukina was quiet, as she healed Hiei's shoulder. Frowning, she found that she couldn't do anything. Kurama noticed her frowning and knew something was up.

"Yukina, what's wrong?" Kurama asked worried.

"I can't do anything! I'm not sure what's wrong either…Hiei, do you remember how you hurt yourself?" Yukina asked Hiei. Turning his glazed, blank look on her, Hiei thought hard. All he could remember was running…

~*flashback*~

~*end flashback*~

"Nothing…nothing…remember nothing…" Hiei mumbled, his eyes finally clearing up only to show despair and guilt for not remembering.

Yukina's gaze softened as she took in his apologetic look. "It's ok. Just be careful when using your arm and don't strain yourself."

"Hai."

Unconsciously, Kurama shifted Hiei in order to move into a better position. Unfortunately, he forced Hiei to painfully move his right arm to the back, in order to grasp Kurama's arm to keep from falling.

"Ah!" Hiei gasped in pain as his vision swam and lights exploded in his eyes.

"Oh! Hiei! Gomen nasai! Daijoubu ka?? Oh Kami-sama…" Kurama started to massage Hiei's shoulder blade, hoping to lessen the pain. At Hiei's cry of pain, the others had stiffened and tightened their hold on the injured fire demon, unintentionally making things worse.

".hurts…let…go…it hurts!" Hiei cried out, his body stiffening in attempt to lessen the pain.

"Gomen!" came the cry from several very embarrassed and ashamed people. "We're so sorry!" The little demon didn't hear them, as his senses were dulled from the excruciating pain. Hiei fought the impending unconsciousness that came with the pain. So absorbed in his pain that Hiei did not notice Kurama forcing him to eat a sedative. As darkness overcame his senses, he knew that he could not be drawn into the darkness because He would be there. He would be there to take him [Hiei] away from all he knew and loved.

"No!" Hiei gasped out in fear. "No! Don't let me go back! I don't want to go! Please don't let me fall into the darkness! Please…don't…let…me…sle…" Hiei's pleas fell on shocked and alarmed ears as he fell unconscious. The others were alarmed at what they had done.

"Kurama…" Botan whispered.

"I didn't know! There was no other way to relieve his pain! What did I do!?" Kurama asked, shocked and ashamed.

"His eyes…did you see them? They were like those eyes we saw back there. Remember?" Keiko asked, shaken.

"Yes…so terrified, but this time, there was a wildness in them. He really meant it when he didn't want us to put him back to sleep! Kurama, we have to wake him up!" Koenma said, turning to Kurama.

"I-I don't have the material, I mean the plants. I don't have the ingredients with me! I can't wake him up without it!" Kurama said wildly.

"Kuso! What is it you need?" Koenma swore, looking angry, but not at Kurama. No, he wasn't angry with Kurama. Rather, he was angry at him, the one who caused all this to happen.

"A-Athelas! I need Athelas!" Kurama said. "It heals all wounds but the mint smell should wake Hiei up!"

"Athelas? Why not mint?" Kuwabara asked, confused.

Shaking his head frantically, Kurama responded, "No! Mint isn't strong enough! I need Athelas and a bowl of water!"

"Here! Kurama, here!" Yukina shoved several plants and a bowl of water into Kurama's hand.

Surprised, Kurama looked into his hand to discover the Athelas plant in his hand. "But where…"

"Genkai has a storage full of herbs and I go pick herbs sometimes." Yukina replied, knowing his question. "Demo, Hiei needs your help! Oh Kurama, please help him!"

Without further ado, Kurama washed the Athelas and opened them. Immediately, a strong and fresh mint smell permeated the room. The others felt themselves relaxing at the smell of the small plants. Anxiously, Kurama held the Athelas under Hiei's nose, using them like smelling salts.

Come on, Hiei. Wake up!

~~~~~~~

Once more, Hiei found himself in the dark place. Whimpering, he curled into a tight ball, tears streaming down his face as he willed himself to not think about his friend's betrayal.

They didn't know…they couldn't have known…I didn't tell them. It's not their fault…They're still my friends and they still care about me.

"Oh really? If they were your friends, they should've known, even if you didn't tell them. It was obvious from your past reactions to the darkness that you couldn't stand the darkness no longer. Tell me, do you really believe that they're your friends?" A mysterious voice sounded in Hiei's ears. For some reason, Hiei couldn't stand the voice and shrunk even further in on himself, covering his ears.

I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything! Chanted Hiei continuously in his mind. Maybe he hadn't heard that voice. Maybe he was just dreaming and nothing had happened. The terror, the fear, the utter helplessness never happened, he never experienced it. Maybe-

"Oh, come off it, Hiei! It happened and you know it. There's no use denying it. Now that you're back in the darkness, you're mine and I can do whatever I want to you. As long as you're here in my world, there's nothing you can do. Nothing at all."

No! I won't let you defeat me! Not as long as my friends are here!

"But they aren't! Can't you see that?! They've abandoned you! They've left you alone to fend for yourself in this darkness! THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO BECAUSE NO ONE IS HERE TO HELP YOU!"

You're wrong! My friends still care…I know they do! They just have to!

"You're hoping they care. You see, they don't. If they did, you'd be out of here al-" The voice was cut off when a beautiful, fresh, mint smell suddenly entered the impenetrable darkness.

"What? What's this? Athelas?! No!"

Kurama…see? You're wrong, my friends do care! You bastard, you'll burn in hell! Strength born out of hope and despair surged through Hiei as he attacked his tormentor. "Omae wo Korusoe! Black Dragon!" As Hiei's Black Dragon bore down towards the area in which the mysterious voice seemed to originate from, the voice laughed coldly.

"Try all you might, but no matter what you do, it will never work. You cannot kill me here."

Kisama!

As Hiei's Black Dragon struck nothing, the darkness surrounding Hiei disappeared as the smell of the Athelas pulled him to wakefulness.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Hiei? Say something!" Kurama pleaded. Please don't let this be a re-run of before! I don't think I can handle it if it were!

"Kisama…I will kill you someday!" Hiei whispered furiously as his eyes fluttered open. Kurama was stricken. Did Hiei just call him a bastard and threaten to kill him?

"Hiei…I'm so sorry, I didn't know…Could you ever forgive me?" Kurama asked, looking down, ashamed.

"hn…not you…Him. He was there…He was in the darkness…I can't defeat him on my own…I can't defeat him there…He won't leave me alone…I can't sleep, Kurama! If I do, He'll be there to torment me! Kurama…I don't know what to do!" Hiei sobbed, the stress from the whole day and what had just happened finally breaking down his shields

"Oh Hiei…I'm so sorry! I swear that we'll kill him together."

"Iie." Yusuke interjected.

Surprised and angry, Kurama glared at Yusuke. "Yusuke! You saw what that bastard did to Hiei! You're just going to let him go like that?!"

"Jeez, Kurama! You never let me finish! What I was going to say was that it won't be just the two of you fighting the evil bastard. We'll all fight him! Me, you, Kuwabara, and of course, Hiei. We're a team remember?"

"Hai, gomen. I guess I everything has finally gotten to me, ne? I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's ok. Hey, Hiei, you OK with that? Hiei? Hiei!" Yusuke panicked as he saw Hiei fall limp in Kurama's arms. He looked like a broken doll, lying there in Kurama's arms.

"Hiei?! Kurama, what's wrong with shorty?" Kuwabara asked as he noticed Hiei's eyes go blank and take on a possessed look. A dark aura formed around Hiei and in pain, Kurama released Hiei.

"Ah!" Kurama yelled, his arms in pain.

"Kurama? Daijoubu ka? What the…HIEI!" Yusuke shouted, clasping Hiei into his arms as he saw the demon begin to disappear in the thickening darkness.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Screaming in pain, Yusuke still refused to release Hiei as the dark aura attacked him, trying to force him to relinquish his hold on the little fire demon. Summoning his ki, Yusuke surrounded him and Hiei, forming a shield around them both. Nevertheless, the pain was too intense. Little by little, his shield began to weaken and disappear.

"Kuwabara- help me!" Yusuke gasped in pain, as he held onto the little demon tighter than ever. Kuwabara complied, placing a hand on Yusuke's shoulder. He too ended up shouting in pain as the dark aura attacked him as well. Fortunately, their shield held but still weakened. They needed more help. Without thinking, Kurama ran up and held onto Hiei's hands. Gasping in pain, tears came to Kurama's eyes as waves of pain engulfed his mind and his body. Still, like Yusuke and Kuwabara, he refused to let Hiei go. The others soon grabbed a hold of one of the Spirit Detectives and were soon screaming in pain from the sheer torture they were experiencing. Yet they never let go of one another, they never gave in to the pain. The darkness fought harder but was evenly matched but those who opposed It. It was evident that they weren't going to give Hiei up without a fight.

You'll never get him, not as long as I am here whether dead or alive!

Sensing the same thought from all the others, the darkness' power grew from fury and anger that these-these children were trying to defy it. Screaming in rage, the darkness forced everything it had into claiming Hiei and attacking the others.

The Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Koenma, Botan, Shizuru, Yukina, and Keiko screamed in pain, their combined screams sounding like nothing else. Passerby's outside the temple heard the screams and in fear, ran away. The screams sounded like the screams of the dead. Slowly, ever so slowly, Yusuke and co. were losing their grip on life. Agonizingly, Hiei pried opened his eyes as he heard the screams of the dying reach his ears.

No! Hiei gasped as he realized who was screaming. No! I won't let you claim their lives! Did you hear me?! I. WON'T. LET. YOU. TAKE. THEM! In a burst of ki, a black aura, that of Hiei's surrounded him and his friends, adding power to the already combined efforts of his family, giving them more strength. Disastrously, that was the last of Hiei's strength and Hiei fell into the darkness, but this time, nothing would wake him up from it. Nothing but his family could wake him up from it but his family, his saviors were in trouble.

"Oh Kami! Hiei…we can't let Him win! Not when Hiei gave up so much, just to save us! Ah! No! I refuse to give in!" Surprisingly, Shizuru was the one who shouted this and it was her who pushed herself to the limit first.

"Yes! I absolutely refuse to let that jackass take Hiei! Teme!" Keiko shouted, putting everything she had into protecting her family. One by one, the others pushed themselves to the max and beyond, in an attempt to save themselves and their loved ones.

"SHINE KISAMA!" They all shouted, forcing the aura back. There was a flash of light, and then-nothing.

A/N: *frets* I hope that was good! Like I said in the beginning, this was inspired from my having the same shoulder blade problem as Hiei. Weird, ne? *winces* It still hurts and the way I'm sitting isn't helping at all. I hope you guyz enjoy this! Review and tell me what you think! Also, tell me if you want another chapter! And once again, I'm so sorry for making Hiei so OOC! Since he is supposed to be terrified, I saw it fit to make him scared shitless… *ducks as Hiei fans throw rotten veggies at Schizo13* Gomen! I'm a –huge- fan of Hiei myself but I can't stop myself from torturing the adorable guy! *cuddles Hiei plushy* All pain about Hiei's shoulder is real. I didn't make up that part and I really don't know how I hurt myself like that. I don't know how Hiei hurt himself like that. Hehe I'm the author and I've no clue how this is going to end.

Urusai: shut up

Daijoubu ka: are you ok?

Gomen: sorry

Gomen nasai: very sorry

Ne: no?; right?; n'est pas? (in French)

Shine: die

Omea wo korusoe: I will kill you

Kisama: bastard

K'so/Kuso: Shit; damn

Iie: no

Kami-sama/Kami: God

Teme: f***; bitch (I'm kinda shaky on the def. here)

Ningenkai: human world

Makai: demon world

Athelas: King's foil (you know, Lotr? I couldn't think of any other plant so I chose this.)

A/N: I think that's it…once again, I'm not Japanese so it won't do you much good trusting in my translations of the Japanese vocab I have used in my story.

Please review and tell me what you think!

12.23.03