Hiei leapt over a fallen log as he delved deeper into the Makai forests. He wasn't about to give up, and somehow the smell of roses had been increasing around him for days now. He hated that he himself smelt like them, but couldn't help wondering why. Maybe it was a sign? The stronger the smell, the closer he got to Kurama? He hoped that was the case. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a flash of Yuusuke's green uniform before it disappeared behind several trees. Hiei had been careless, and they'd managed to catch him up. He wasn't even sure why he was running from them. He just knew they couldn't help him find Kurama. He had to do it alone.
Hiei felt something slip around his ankle, and was dragged none too gently to the floor. He was dragged beneath the giant leaves of a particularly vicious plant, its buds' edges sharper than Kurama's rose whip thorns. He heard rather than saw Yuusuke pass, his heavy footfalls thumping off into the forest. Hiei looked around at the deadly plant he was now under, and wondered what had grabbed him, not to mention why the plant hadn't already tried to devour him. His thoughts instantly flashed to Kurama. He glanced around him, his Jagan having come up with no familiar energy. Nothing. Still, that plant that had latched itself to his ankle and pulled him under the tree obviously did not act of its own accord. And the tree itself wasn't attacking, that was more evidence. It had to be Kurama. Looking around again, his eyes fell on a flash of silver in the otherwise black shadows. Daring not to call out in case Yuusuke heard, he quickly removed himself from under the plant, keeping his Jagan trailed on it in case it should turn against him. He was soon free of it's range, however, when he leapt after the flash of silver. Just ahead of him, he kept seeing those flashes of silver hair and a white tail. It had to be Kurama, in his Youko form.
"Kurama!" He called, not loudly, but urgently. He began to doubt himself. If it was Kurama, why couldn't he sense him? Or even smell him? And why wouldn't he stop? Hiei never lost sight of the flashes of silver, and was very thankful for the brightness of the kitsune's coat. Without it, Hiei knew he would have lost him long ago. Suddenly he burst out of the trees into a clearing and froze on the spot. All across the clearing there were Kitsune – in human form and fox form. Some had only the one tail, while others had five or even nine. Hiei stepped back. He hadn't realised that they were such sociable creatures. All eyes were on him, all golden. He stepped back again. "Uh…"
"This one followed me from the woods. He was chased by the demon known as Yuusuke. I saved him, as our sire would have wanted on behalf of our insentient visitor, but he followed. I couldn't lose him." The Kitsune closest to him spoke up, and the others all glanced between them. For several minutes no one moved, but the tension was quickly growing. Hiei was thinking about what the Youko had said. He knew of Yuusuke, but then who didn't? Who was their sire? And the visitor he had mentioned? Could that be Kurama? And if it was, he was insentient? Hiei felt his worry peak, but just as he was about to speak, the Youko all separated to two sides of the clearing, clearing a path for a Youko in human form with nine tails. He looked young, but Hiei knew not to misjudge him by appearance. It was said that Youko couldn't even grow extra tails until they passes 1000 years of age.
"Young one." The Youko spoke, it's words obviously addressed to Hiei, who bristled slightly at the name despite knowing its truth. "You come seeking Youko Kurama. He cannot heed your call." Hiei couldn't help taking a step forward.
"He's here though? Can I see him?" There was a murmur of unease around the clearing, numerous tails twitching. There was a long pause, and Hiei wondered if he would have to fight his way through. Not that he held much hope against a clearing of Youko. But he wouldn't leave knowing Kurama was there. He wouldn't.
"…You may. Though I say again, he will not heed your call. He cannot." Hiei watched as the Youko turned and walked into the forest, and Hiei reluctantly followed, passing through the Youko filling the clearing and glancing over them uneasily. He followed the larger Youko silently, but once they were out of earshot, the kitsune spoke more gently. "Youko Kurama is of our clan. We felt his pain across vast distances. We know our blood when we feel it suffering. All those gathered here today are here to aid him, though none has succeeded. We are solitary creatures, a gathering on this scale has not occurred for many millennia. It is strange that it should occur for a being who left us. But then, we felt him die the first time, and so to feel his pain again was a shock to us all. Naturally, we came to help." Hiei wasn't sure why he was being told all this, but it did make sense what he was saying. "You may desire a moment alone. I shall wait here. Please, return to the clearing when you are ready. We are all greatly interested to know what has occurred since he 'died' initially." Hiei nodded, watching as the Youko made his way back through several walls of vines that Hiei hadn't realised he'd passed. Stepping forward through another wall that parted around him, he felt a warmth spread over him. Looking ahead, he saw a bed of vines covered in moss, and atop it was a silver haired Youko he knew. He wasn't sure how he knew it was Kurama, but he did. He moved reluctantly forward, nearing the make-shift bed with uncertain steps.
"Kurama?" He asked gently, not willing to thrust his presence unexpected on the fox. There was no reaction. He came to the edge of the bed and looked over the slender being. It was good to see him in his demon form, not so fragile-looking and delicate. Somehow, though, he pined for red hair and green eyes. He'd even settle for a glimpse of yellow eyes if only they'd open. He reached out a slightly shaking hand, rubbing soft white hair from the pale forehead. "Kurama?" He asked again, but didn't expect a response. He waited in silence for a few moments, unsure what to do. His eyes flickered over the body of his fox. He had no wounds, the other Youko must have healed them, but Hiei couldn't sense his youki at all. There was no energy radiated off him, no warmth. He assumed that was why it was so warm inside the nest of vines, to keep his temperature steady. He was almost tempted to feel for a heartbeat, but he knew he'd be there for a long time waiting for the nest to occur. He leant forward, stroking the soft cheek with the back of his fingers. "Don't worry. I will return." He said, and turned his back on his love. He almost ran to the clearing, wanting to get back to ningenkai. Suddenly he had the need to see Shiori. He hated the fact that he wanted to see her, but he couldn't help it. As he re-entered the clearing, he looked around and caught sight of the old fox. Sitting cross-legged before him, he didn't wait before speaking. "I must return to Ningenkai. May I bring a woman with me upon my next visit? She may help him. And while she's here, I'll explain his life to you."
"Bring whatever human you please, but other demons will not be accepted." Hiei nodded and flitted off without another word.