A/N: Okay, for those who don't know or haven't figured it out, italics mean mental conversations. I do not list it as always saying that the characters are talking mentally and so just go by use of italics. If large passages are in italics and there is no set up besides it being a scene change, assume it is a dream. If it is not a dream and the entire passage is in italics, then the chapter will give you adequate clues as to what exactly is happening.

Shuuichi's POV

I knew better than that. I knew better than to drag up Kuronue but he always holds things back from me and I never can hold anything back from him. He always probes everything out of me. I hate it when he does that! He can get me to tell him anything. I sigh outwardly and finally arrive home, where I am alone and without anyone to talk to. I don't want to go to the hospital like this. I want to take a shower before I visit the hospital. Then, I'll do homework while mother sleeps and leave once visitation hours are over. I hate knowing that I can't do anything to save her. Youko said five months ago that if we tried to heal her, or any demon tried to heal her, she would die. I don't want to think anymore. I just want her out of the hospital and safe with me. I know Enma will still try to hurt me and Koenma is still in exile in Ninigenkai, although no one knows where. Botan can't help because Enma would kill her if she tried to heal my mother. I unlock the front door and enter the silent domicile.

I awake the next morning feeling very lonely. I feel strange and my head feels oddly empty, as if Youko wasn't there to read my every action and word. I find it almost scary not to sense Youko. In my mind, I call out to him,

"Youko, are you there?"

"I'm here little kit." Youko replies with an oddly fatigued voice. He sounds ill!

"Why do you sound off, Youko?"

"Why do care, Shuuichi? Yesterday you made it as clear as day that you don't trust me enough to believe I care about you. What makes you think I trust you enough to actually care about me?" Youko's voice sounds very distressed and worn out. I admit I was harsh on him yesterday but that doesn't mean I don't worry about him. I must have pushed it too far this time, especially by pulling Kuronue into the argument. I have not been talking to him much or him to me but I wanted to know what it might feel like if he weren't there. I found it to be rather lonely and I don't want that! Yet, he infuriates me because he teases and taunts me and I let it effect me.

"The last time we talked before yesterday was when you pushed me to my breaking point to tell Hiei I loved him. I didn't think I could handle any more arguments like that. I do care about you Youko but you frustrate and tease me endlessly. I do not want to know what would happen if I vented my fears to you and it scared me to think of telling you about them because you would use the material continually to harass me. But I would never repeat what you tell me, I promise." It took a lot of humbling for me to say that but I want to know what is wrong.

Youko just tells me, "I want you to be strong for me, little kit. Don't let anyone hurt you like that, not even me." His voice is still reedy. This answer only troubles me more than I am willing to admit. I try to reach out into Youko's mental sanctuary. He doesn't let me in but reaches out to my own mental domain. I allow him. I feel agony across his entire being. I try to wrap my ki around his but he tries to reject it.

I tell Youko, "I want to comfort you. You shouldn't be in so much pain."

Youko laughs bitterly and says in that still cracked voice, "I told you the same thing six months ago when your mother first entered the hospital. I am not in much pain." He's lying badly and I can't stop the panicky reaction that rushes through me and my ki.

I ask Youko, "Why do you hurt? What can we do about it?"

Youko asks, sounding irritated, "We? As in you and I? You will do nothing while I deal with my own pain. It is my pain alone. I will not relegate it off to someone else."

I tell Youko earnestly, "You've heard me vent every single frustration about my mother and her illness. You also have heard me vent about the sorrow I feel. Let me pay off some of the debt I owe you for this. So, I ask a second time; why do you hurt?"

Youko says quietly, his words full of his frustration, "I wish I could explain it but then you would have to get rid of these ridiculous notions in your head that I am manipulating you for my own pursuits. Sometimes I do 'pester' you about certain things that I think would improve your life more than anything else does. Other times, I 'pester' you because you never talk to me. I need some sort of interaction little kit, or I become easily bored and a bored kitsune is a dead kitsune." What in kami's names does that mean? Is that why he is hurting? Is my ignoring him hurting him? Gods, I hope not!

I ask Youko, sounding more perturbed than I intend, "Am I the one hurting you Youko? If so, please tell me so I can fix it! I never intended to hurt you!"

Youko replies very quietly, as if sacrificing a great deal in order to speak, "We are separating. You seem to ignore me and I seem to try to help you but it never works. Our souls, once one soul, are splitting and I am shouldering the brunt of it because it is all of my memories and actions that have to separate from yours since you are in control of the physical body." We're separating?! Why are we separating? What do we do? Can either of us survive the separation? Do we even want to be separated? Does Youko want us to separate? Is Youko dying because of this? Is there a way to end this? Are we both going to die or is only one of us going to die? Can Hiei aid us? Koenma is out of the picture and so is Botan. Maybe Genkai could assist us. All of these questions as well as others circle in my head.

I ask Youko, "What do we do? Should we go to the temple and meditate to try to work through this together or is it more complex than that?" I try not to sound uneasy but my fear slips into my mental voice regardless.

Youko says weakly, "Going to the temple for a few hours would be best. If I could take over and roam around for a little while, possibly my body will split from yours entirely or nothing will happen. Either way, I would be able to handle the pain more tangibly. However, if we switch rolls, you might experience the pain. If you do, tell me so we can revert to our original rolls again."

I reply to him, "Okay Youko. Is there anything else I can do?" I want to help him. His agony is immense and it terrifies me to see the one I always looked up to for strength seeming so tired and weakened.

Yoko says quietly, "Conserve your energy. If we have to split, you'll need as much as possible." In other words, he wants me to stop trying to soothe him even though he feels very faint and weak. I try to wrap my ki around his. I hear him sigh in exhaustion and then he lets me give him some of my ki. I feel him stabilize for the most part, although he is stabilizing at a level far below the norm for him. I sigh hard. This is going to be a very trying ordeal. I don't want to ponder about losing Youko. He's always been there. A few months ago, I could not endure being constantly thought of as him, or as a lesser being than Youko. I wanted to be my own person, without the projections of Youko constantly pushing me down. I had wanted to be alone, be somewhat normal. Now, however, the thought of life without Youko is an unpleasant one at best. I drag myself out of bed and head for the kitchen to eat before taking a shower.

As I am finishing my breakfast, the phone rings. I grab it and answer, "Hello, Minamino residence, Shuuichi speaking."

A voice replies, "Hey Kurama, it's me Yusuke. Look, something's wrong with Hiei and we need you to come down to Genkai's temple asap." Yusuke's voice sounds anxious and angry. I try to calm myself down, telling myself it is probably nothing.

I ask Yusuke, "What is Hiei doing?"

Yusuke replies, "He was pacing back and forth muttering senselessly about Youko. Now, he is not responding to anyone. Yukina tried to talk to him but he won't even grunt or flinch when she hugged him. I don't know what to do Kurama! Just get your ass down here, okay?!" Yusuke seems to be panicking prematurely but this still is an odd occasion.

I tell Yusuke, "I will be there shortly." Yusuke replies,

"Okay, see you in a few." Yusuke hangs up. I sigh. He seems not to have any sort of manners, especially over the phone.

I ask Youko, "Why do you think Hiei would be acting so strangely? Why would he be talking about you and then fall into catatonia?"

Youko replies, "Hmm, strange indeed. I think he might have felt our energy last night but there's no explanation for his sudden catatonic state." I finish my toast and get dressed before heading towards Genkai's temple.

Disclaimer: I don't own YuYu Hakusho or any of its characters. I make no money from writing this. Please read and review! I hope you enjoy it. Again, please review! (re-edited 8-10-2012)