A/N: Well, here I am again with only one review and still typing away. I hope you people are happy. I'm a little upset with the results of my writing. But hey, I may just live. Go me. Wahoo. Be in the Holiday spirit and give me the gift of reviews. I'll give you the gift of new chapters if you do. R&R please and as always, enjoy.

Disclaimer: See part 1.

Part IV

Conflict

*Kurama*

"Are you alright?" Ryouki asked, concern showing in her rose-red eyes.

"Yes, just a little tired," I replied with a small yawn that I concealed behind my hand as I straightened and started walking again. Moments later I stumbled and was forced to lean against a second tree.

"You're a terrible liar," Ryouki scolded. "Let me help." She didn't wait for a response. She pulled my right arm around her shoulders, helping me keep my balance and letting me lean on her for a little support.

"I think I shall take that as a compliment." I responded quietly.

Yuseke, Kuwabara, Touya, Hiei, Ryouki and I had started traveling again, immediately after the sun had risen over the tree tops. The going was easy.

Ryouki and I hadn't slept at all last night. She had spent it healing the injuries on my back and shoulders and it's not exactly easy to sleep when a few weeks worth of healing is being poured into you. I, personally, was drained completely. My energy had gone towards guarding my vital points as I was strangled and whipped the night before. Ryouki, on the other hand, acted as if she still had every drop of Spirit Energy she had started with. I envied her endurance.

"You two alright?" Yuseke called back to us. He and Kuwabara were in the lead, followed by Hiei and Touya with Ryouki and me bringing up the rear.

"Hn." Ryouki now responded in a perfect imitation of her cousin.

"If you say so," Yuseke muttered. "How long do you think it will take us to get out of these woods?" he now inquired.

"At this pace, we can make it out by midnight if we don't stop." Touya said. "There's a small town on the edge of the trees. We should be able to take refuge there."

"A town?" Kuwabara said.

"Yes, a town," Hiei growled quietly. "Are you too dense to know what one is or do we have to spell it out for you?"

"Shut up, Shorty, before I hurt you." Kuwabara ordered.

"I'm shaking," Hiei's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Why you-"

I grinned slightly. It was good to know that Hiei and Kuwabara where still able to fight and bicker with each other after a night of little or no sleep and a fight that they both could very well have been killed in.

The shadows of clouds descended down upon us. Thunder rolled in the distance and, before long, it was pouring. We where all soaked in an instant. Hiei and Kuwabara stopped fighting momentarily.

"Cut it out, Ree'." Hiei growled. "I know you brought this storm in."

"And if I did?" Ryouki challenged.

"You might like being soaked but I don't."

"Too bad for you. This area's been going through a drought. Everything's dying and it's in danger of forest fire."

"Hn. You're becoming sentimental."

"Take that back." Lightning flashed just off to the left of us, drawn close by Ryouki's anger. Small imitations of the larger bolt played through Ryouki's hair. I quickly pulled away and Kuwabara jumped and backed away.

"Is that a challenge?" Hiei growled.

"Yes."

Hiei pulled his cloak off. He dropped into a fighting stance, his hand hovering inches from his sword-hilt. Ryouki reached over her shoulders, fingering the handles of her dirks.

Rather than risk being shocked, I stepped forward and placed my hand on Hiei's shoulder. He didn't even glance at me.

"Stand down, Kurama, this doesn't concern you." His hand tightened on his hilt.

"Think about this Hiei."

"I've thought about it. She's ticked me off too many times. It's gone too far. She won't get the chance ever again."

"Hiei stop. Listen to reason," I coaxed. "You risked life and limb not too long ago to save her."

"That was a big mistake."

"Hey Shorty!" Kuwabara interjected. "You told us once that when you entered into an alliance you weren't likely to break it. What happened to that idea?"

I looked at Kuwabara in astonishment. Yuseke was watching him too. "Since when do you know the right thing to say?" Yuseke hissed.

Hiei's eyes finally flicked away from Ryouki. Indecision showed in his dark eyes. Finally, after three tense minutes, Hiei straightened and picked up his cloak.

"We'll settle this later," he warned as he pulled his cloak back onto his shoulders. "Count on it." Turning his back on his cousin Hiei started back down the path.

I allowed myself a slight of relief. If Hiei had lost his temper, we would have been in trouble.

I looked over at Ryouki. She was watching Hiei's back. Sparks still jumped through her hair. Rain water dripped down the sides of her face.

The others had started off again. I could hear them sloshing through the mud. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Touya, the last of the group, round a bend that was a short distance ahead. I turned back to Hiei's cousin.

Ryouki still stood there. I realized then that it wasn't only rain that trickled down her cheeks. Tears slowly spilled from her eyes. Gingerly, almost hesitantly, I reached out to her and placed my hand on her cheek. A spark jumped from her hair to my hand. It prickled slightly but didn't hurt.

Her gaze flickered from the path up to my face. The scowl that creased her face changed rapidly as the large amount of sorrow that had been hidden behind her eyes spilled forth. The tears came more readily.

"Hey," I said gently, "what's this?" I cupped her face in my hands and bent slightly so I could look more clearly into her eyes. "Surely you're not weeping over this little argument."

"It's not just his one," she sobbed quietly. "Hiei's been acting so oddly as of late. He used to enjoy the storms I brought it, only if it reminded him of my mother. She raised the both of us, in a bandit group you see." She explained to my puzzled expression.

"What do you mean 'oddly'?"

"Well," she avoided my eyes, "he's been quieter than usual. He's also been locking himself in his room for prolonged periods of time and he's been becoming angry over the smallest thing."

I looked over my shoulder, as if looking for the demon. He, like the rest of our small group, was nowhere in sight. This little bit of information was food for thought. Right now, though, I figured I had better see if I could calm Ryouki down.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm being silly. Hiei's probably just grieving and I'm obviously overly tired."

"Grieving?"

"My parents and I guess you could call them his as well, died about this time fore two-hundred years ago."

I'm sorry to hear that. We stood in silence a moment. Well, we better catch up with the others." I said.

"Yeah, guess so." She wiped the remaining tear-streaks from her face. She picked up a few Flamingtears, (tears of a Fire demon) and another set of stones I didn't recognize. She pocketed them and caught up with the rest of the group.

~*~*~*~

As Touya had said, had we kept the pace we were going at earlier, we wouldn't have left the forest boundaries until about midnight. But, with this knowledge, after Ryouki and I had caught up, Yuseke had pushed us into a jog. That soon became a race. With each one of us at a headlong spring, we reached the town just after sunset. Kuwabara, the last one to reach the town made it an hour later. Ryouki, whom had made it first, reached there about a half-hour before. As Kuwabara reached us, we came together in a huddle.

"I don't know about the rest of you,' Yuseke said, "but I, for one, don't want to spend the night under the trees again."

There was a chorus of agreement.

"Good. Touya, since you seem to know the area best, where do you think the best place to stay is?"

"I prefer the Hiroski Inn. It's right over there." He nodded towards a medium sized building. It was four stories tall and looked well kept, especially for demon standards.

"All agree?"

Another chorus of agreement.

"Then let's go." He started off but stopped half-way there. "Uh. anyone got money?"

"You can owe me Yuseke." Touya said.

Upon entering the Inn, we found it well kept indeed. White washed walls, a clean wooden floor, and not a speck of dust in sight. AT the moment, the place seemed full. Demons sat at every table available, talking, joking, fighting, and jut being loud.

A plump little demon came waddling up to us now. "Ah, Touya," he greeted, "it's good to see you again. And it seems you have companions with you. Friends of yours?" He inquired; looking passed the ice master at us.

"Yes, Artrin. Do you have any rooms available?"

The innkeeper, Artrin's, face changed from an expression of joy to one of exasperation and apology. "Alas, my friend," he said, "I have but three rooms left. Each room has two beds in them and a table, but that is all."

"Is that alright with everyone?" Touya turned to us.

"Seems fine," Yuseke said. "We'll take them."

"Wonderful!" Artrin cried. "Here are the keys," he handed them to Touya. "The rooms are on the top floor, last two doors on your right and first door on your left." He indicated which keys went to which room. "I'll send someone up. That is, if you're hungry."

"Yes, please."

"Well, off you to, then. Someone will be up shortly."

We stared up the staircase.

"How're we going to spit?' Kuwabara asked when we reached our floor.

"I shall stay with Hiei." I offered cutting Yuseke off. I caught Touya's eye and glanced meaningfully at Ryouki.

"I haven't yet had the chance to talk with Ryouki. I shall stay with her, that is, if you don't mind, of course." Touya said turning to Ryouki.

"Not at all." She said with a courteous nod.

"It's settled then," Yuseke said and walked towards the first door on the left after handing keys out to everyone. "See you in the morning." We shrugged and headed to the last two doors on the right. Hiei and I took the last one and Touya and Ryouki took the one next to us. It wasn't long until we had eaten and gone to sleep.

I sat up in bed, wanting to scream but resisting the urge. The nightmare had been so real, so solid. I looked back on what had petrified me so, but all I could remember was a black silhouette standing over me. The figure wasn't what had scared me. No, that dark form had offered a bit of comfort, almost relief. Something else had me shaking.

'It's too stuffy in here,' I decided. Climbing out of bed, I discovered I was soaked with sweat; fear sweat to be exact. I was drenched in it. I turned my back in disgust at my weakness and pulled on my pants. Yes, I prefer sleeping in boxers. Disregarding my shirt that I had dropped over a chair, I walked out onto the balcony.

It was a clear night. An almost full moon shown down. 'Not long before I have to let the Youko walk.' I thought. 'Two to three days is all.' Suddenly, I got the urge to let my demonic side loose now. "No," I murmured quietly, "not tonight. You'll have your chance in a few days."

"How often do you talk to yourself?" I looked around for the source of the voice. Touya sat on the railing of the balcony of his and Ryouki's room. "Or were you talking to someone else?"

"Both," I replied evenly.

"Both? I'm afraid I don't' understand." The ice master stated.

"I am talking to someone else, but, at the same time, that other person is I."

"You have a split personality?"

"In a sense, yes. Sort of a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde." I explained.

"Who?"

"Oh, sorry. Human saying."

"Interesting. What is the story behind this saying? Humans intrigue me."

Smiling, I told him the famous classic. When I had finished, Touya was shaking his head. "Ningens are interesting. To think someone could have thought up a ridiculous story like that." He chuckled quietly. "I'm assuming that the form standing before me s the 'Dr. Jeckyl'?"

"Precisely." I replied. He was quiet for a moment.

"Who is the 'Mr. Hyde' then?"

"My current form is my human form. The 'Mr. Hyde' is my demon form. I must let that part of me take over from time to time. I'm sure you remember the fox like creature that I turned into that the last Dark Tournament. That's who he is. It's near a full moon; I can feel him becoming restless."

"What has the full moon to do with anything?"

"It's light, unless the 'kitsune walks sooner, will trigger the transformation. I can't stop it."

"Intriguing. How long until the next full moon?"

"Just a few days." Touya just about fell off the balcony in surprise. Ryouki stood in the doorway. "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm exhausted. Please, keep your voices down." She turned and walked back inside.

'Oh dear,' I thought, 'I should have been more considerate. She was awake all last night, healing me. Why didn't I realize I might be keeping someone awake?"

"Well, I'm tired." Touya said. "I'm going back to bed. See you in the morning."

"Yes, of course," I said absentmindedly, my thoughts still occupied with worry and guilt over keeping Ryouki awake. "Good-night." I stayed out in the fresh night air, calming my thoughts, for a while longer.

"Now I can't sleep!" Ryouki came walking out after about ten minutes. She sat down ton the railing and stared up at the stars. "Full moon soon," she murmured, "hope this mission is finished before them."

I glanced over at her. She was glaring fixedly at the moon. She apparently didn't realize I was still out there. Deciding I wouldn't disturb her, I started to fight my other half again. I wasn't about to let him out before I absolutely had to. Like Ryouki, I was hoping that this mission would be completed before then.