Chapter 2.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to the Human World with us Kurama?" Yusuke asked his friend.

"I know you don't want anyone to see you like this, but you can stay at my place. It's really no problem, man."

Kurama smiled warmly at the Spirit Detective. "I thank you for your invitation, Yusuke, but really, I must decline. In addition to the fact that I would rather avoid the possibility of being seen and causing emotional torment to my human mother for my poor physical state, I do believe being surrounded with the energy of the Demon World will aid in a swifter recovery of my own energy. I am a spirit of the forest, after all."

"Suit yourself, fox boy. Take care out there. I hate to think about all the creepy crawlies lurking around after the tournament." Yusuke shook his fist to the world.

"Yes, I've considered that as well. I know some very secluded areas where I can recover in peace. No need to worry for me."

The members of Team Urameshi said their farewells and were off, just a few days after the final fights. They all had some serious rest to catch up on.

Kurama had to admit that Yusuke was absolutely right, he had to be very careful. His life energy had returned, but that was about it. His wounds were so severe from that week of brutal beatings (not to mention the advanced damage from the energy bombs) that any spirit energy returning was going straight to healing his battered human body.

'If only this human form could heal half as fast as my Demon form could.' Kurama thought, with more than moderate irritation.

It was slow going, but the Plant Manipulator could navigate the forests of the Demon World like no other, resulting in a fairly unhindered journey. After about a week he arrived to one of his favorite old hideouts from his days as Yoko. It was a deep in a dense rainforest, lost in perpetual shadow from the damp thickness of the foliage. There was little activity in the area, as most demons knew that Yoko had resided somewhere in the area once. Even years after his rumored death most creatures were much too afraid of the risk of running into the alluring fox apparition to explore the area. Only simple creatures remained; birds, bees, snakes, fish, unknowing animals of the kind.

The hideout itself was a cave, lost behind veils of vines passing 10 ft. in thickness. Inside was a sight to behold. Smooth shimmering silver walls (curved and twisted with age) created a series of large caverns. The roots of ancient trees climbed through the ceiling to the floor creating doorways between rooms, and filling the space with the earthy scent of life. The caves were sparsely furnished, yet well decorated. Though mostly dry, there was enough moisture to create plush beds of moss throughout the caverns, in a variety of shapes and sizes. The walls were adorned with many types of flowing vines surrounding beautiful relics- carved mirrors, decorative weaponry, paintings in dyes mixed with blood- a small selection of Yokos favorite ill-begotten pieces.

In the center of the caverns (that stretched about a mile in each direction) was a large room with no ceiling, widely open to the sky. The forest claimed the edges of this section, growing elaborate plants along the walls. It was luminescent in its brightness, and there was a large, natural mineral spring that could fit 20 full size demons comfortably at once (depending). It shimmered with rays from the sun here, and Yoko had fixed different colored jewels in the passageways across the entire caves to reflect that light into and across all of the rooms.

Upon his arrival Kurama went right for the spring to relax his aching body. The trip here had taken much out of him and he was relieved to finally rest. Laying back in the clear pool he wet his crimson hair, turning it the shade of thick, fresh blood. Nostalgia surrounded him, and he reminisced on the days when it was Yoko and his bandits against the world.

He could almost see the other Demons there, in the water with him. He could easily imagine Kuronue playfully splash at him with one of those big, black wings, giddy after another successful heist. He longed to reach out to him. For an instant, he was that silver fox again.

Eyes closed, lost in memory, Kurama again submerged his head under the water. As he moved to come back up, he was shocked to find he couldn't break the surface!

His eyes shot open, and a large bubble of air escaped his parted lips before he had the mind to hold his breath.

'What is this?!' He internally screamed.

That's when he felt it. It was exactly the same. The crackling energy of ghost fingers encircling his pale, slender neck.

Kurama squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

'It couldn't be, that's impossible!'

He reopened his eyes to see that familiar pale face, deep ebony hair fanning out around him in the water. Hungry, laughing eyes stared straight back into his.

With one hand around Kuramas neck, the other hand (one finger extended like a hush) came to Kuramas lips, still parted in surprise. The living ghost mouthed Kuramas name into the clear water, before he brought his finger from the foxs lips to his own temple.

Kuramas entire body was cramping. He couldn't hold his breath any longer. His eyes felt like they were going to pop, his lungs were on fire, his insides felt like a black hole.

He was dizzy, his vision blotting black and white. His emerald eyes started to lose their focus on Karasus face and his body arched in a final struggle against his captor.

As he started to lose consciousness, he saw Karasu mouth one word:

"Bang."