River was in too much pain to learn more of Youko's language. She lay in bed the whole day whimpering in pain, and it drove Youko mad. Who was the wretch that dared to hurt her so? He stayed in the room and used his plants to make her comfortable. But it didn't help. The barrier released poisons into her body, making her pale, and her sweat cold. She was panting and soon she fell unconscious. Youko growled in frustration.
How could this have happened?
How could he not be able to fix it?
Kuronue walked in. "How is she?" He asked. "Nothing I do helps. She's getting worse by the hour." Youko said, frustration evident in his voice. A small groan of pain sounds past River's lips, seeming to make Youko angrier. "I've never seen you like this Youko. Usually you are calm and detached during a crisis. You never let emotions catch hold of you like this." Kuronue said. Youko said nothing as he mixed up another plant concoction. "Maybe we should just let her die and just ease the pain for her. She is of no use to us and you're wasting your herbs." Kuronue said. Youko couldn't explain the hatred he suddenly felt when Kuronue said those words. "I will not let her die." He growled lowly, warning Kuronue to keep his thoughts to himself. "I thought as much. I wouldn't either to be honest. She's a mystery, that one." He said. There was a knock at the door.
"Kurama, I have the plants you asked me to get you." Came a voice. Youko nodded to Kuronue to let in the demon. "Where is it?" Youko demanded when the demon came in empty handed. "It's outside Youko. It's too dangerous to bring in, it will purify us all." The demon protested. Youko cursed himself for forgetting this. "Kuronue get the door for me." he said. He scooped up River in his arms and ran outside. "Here it is Youko." The small demon panted, trying to keep up and weakly presenting the small plant to Youko. Youko laid River next to it and brushed her bangs from her face and removed the barrier on the plant. "This will help you River." He told her. He squished the plant in his hands and squeezed the juice of it on her wound, burning through the barrier and healing the wound instantly.
A small cough came from the girl and she sat up slowly. "Youko-sama? You save me?" she asked. He couldn't help the smile that formed on his face when she woke. "Yes, River. Are you feeling better?" He asked. She recognized a few words and nodded.
"Yes. Thank you Youko-sama." She said with a smile.
She hugged him around his neck and he felt relieved the small amount of light in his world had not died.
