I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

"Speech"

'Thought' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 8

As thee explosion cleared, everyone was in shock. Had they just seen the ever so popular Shuuichi Minamino die in an explosion? No they no haddn't, they couldn't have. Could they.

Shiori Minamino was crying, her son, he had died right before her eyes. He was gone. She would never it see him again.

Kazuya was shocked, why had his stepson done that? Why did he have to die so senseless? Didn't he care about them; didn't he care about his decision?

Shuiichi just stood in shock, tears were streaming from his eyes. His brother was dead; he had died in a fight in which he knew he could die in. Why did he fight, Shuuichi could be right next to them, laughing with them, but he wasn't. He was buried under tons of rocks, dead.

Shuiichi thought about the stories of the famous fox demon, Yoko Kurama and how he always escaped the clutched of thee Spirit police. He looked over towards Botan. She was in a terrible state. Her, once cheerful now dead, eyes where staring straight ahead. Genki and Touya had returned. Both had bad burns on them, they looked past him and got into the position to fight.

There were rusting in the bush behind them. Coming out of the bush was what looks like a redheaded elf.

"Well matty, here was the fight."

"Jin, you sure?" A sleek haired youth asked

"This is the fifth area you pointed out to us." A short kid replied as he fell from thee tree above them.

"Sure, I'm sure. See Touya and the old lassie is over there. I'm pretty sure that lassie over there is Botan. All we're missing is our dear old Foxier."

"Dim-wit the case is over." Genki said.

"Really, so who was the bad guy? And where is Fox?" Hiei asked

"Karasu." Touya replied. Shuiichi noticed that Hiei's eyes narrowed. The one Genki had dubbed 'Dim-wit' stood shocked, as did the on called Jin.

"Where is Kurama?" Yusuke asked

"He fought bravely Yusuke." Genki replied sadly "They were both killed"

Shuiichi looked at Hiei. He saw that his eyes widen and he had taken a step back.

"Gone?" Hiei asked in disbelief, he looked straight at Shuiichi. Shuiichi nodded.

"Where did they fight?" Yusuke asked

"Over there." Touya pointed towards the pile of rubble. Hiei disappeared then reappeared in the rubble looking for Kurama.

"Okay, Touya Grandma, you go back to the main camp. The girls and the others are there. Yukina should heal you right up. And." Yusuke looked over at Botan.

"Leave Botan alone. She has to deal with this on her own. You should talk to the boy over there. He is Kurama's stepbrother. Talk to him and his parents. They will need some support." Genki replied. Yusuke nodded and walked over to Shuiichi, everyone else was already leaving.

"What's your name?" Yusuke asked trying to start conversation.

"Why do you all call my brother Kurama? How do you know him?" Shuiichi asked not paying attention to Yusuke's previous question.

" He was a friend of mine. His real name is Kurama." Yusuke replied.

"It isn't his real name." Shuiichi argued.

"It was. He just never told you." Yusuke replied. "I met him on my first mission. I caught him and Hiei, and they were given ordeals and were made into Spirit Detectives. We also fought on the same team in the Dark Tournament. We won." Yusuke stopped something caught his attention as he looked towards the rubble. "Botan! Quick" Yusuke started digging next to Hiei.

"You felt it too?" Hiei asked as he doubled his effort in digging

"Yeah, but it's faint, and it's red." Yusuke said, "We found him!" Yusuke pulled him up from the rubble and pulled him to the side. "Botan, get over here! Kurama needs a to be healed!"

"He's alive?" Botan whispered "He is. Yusuke, I'll get over there in a second. I'm just have to get there" Botan knew she was making no sense but oh well. Botan ran over and start to heal Kurama. A few moments later Yukina and the other arrived. Yukina went over to Kurama and started to help heal him. Together, they had healed most of his cuts and bruises but he still was in a bad shape. His breathing was still shallow, and had a few cuts left on him, and fewer of them were still bleeding.

"He'll need some healing plants, but I don't have any with me." Yukina announced

"Touya brought some back from the Makai." Botan replied

"Let me see them" Yukina replied as she started looking at them. "I don't recognize them."

"But those are the ones Fox usually uses." Hiei replied.

"Do any of you know which plants are which?" Yusuke asked. Hiei handed him a pillow and blankets he had stolen from the camp, Everyone looked at each other thinking they knew which plants were which. "You've got to be kidding me. You mean, you don't know which plants Kurama uses? Hiei you must know. He sends you to get them for him all the time."

"Hn, I just know their names and who they look. Not what they do." Hiei replied

"I think I can help" A voice called out. It startled everyone. Shuiichi was startled the most.

"Hey, aren't you Karasu? My brother is in this situation because of you." Shuiichi shouted. His parents had been escorted earlier by Genki back to their tent.

"I'm not Karasu, whoever he is. But if the demon you all are worried about is really Yoko Kurama, then I'll gladly help you." The demon said.

"What type are you?" Jin asked

"Bat. So tell me. Will you allow me to help you or am I going to have to fight all of you so I can feed him the right herbs. So tell me is he Yoko Kurama?"

"He is." Hiei replied glarig at the stranger.

"Good, now move. Let me see your herbs. Hmm, yes. This will help his breathing. Oh, and this should help him wake up. Now, you fire demon. Make a fire. One of you ice demon. Get a bowl and put some thin ice in it. Good. Now, stir in the herbs I've separated." He said as Hiei and Yukina did as they were told.

"Who are you?" Botan asked as she unconsciously stroked Kurama's hair.

"An old friend." The guy said. " He looks different from the last time I've seen him. Do you know what happened to him?"

"Tell us your name" Shuiichi asked

"Koronue. So will you tell me?"

"He was shot by an hunter, left the Makai, and had to grow up as a human. He had to wait ten years before he could leave. He couldn't do it, so he helps me steal the three Artifacts of Darkness. He used the Forlorn Hope to save his mother; it would have killed him, if the Spirit Detective haddn't stopped him. They both survived and we both became lackey for Spirit World." Hiei quickly explained.

"So he trusts you Hiei?" Koronue asked

"Yes, I believe so." Hiei replied

"Don't betray him. He never gives his trust out so don't treat it like anything. And if I'm right you also has his trust girl." Koronue looks at Botan.

"My name is Botan. And I never knew he trust me." Botan replied sheepishly.

"Also the human brat next to you. He doesn't have all of it. But he has a small part of it." Koronue replied "But the rest of you don't. But if he hasn't killed yet, then he must likes you."

"How do you know?" Shuiichi asked, he didn't like being called a brat.

"I know him better then you think boy." Koronue said, "Besides, the medicine is ready. Now, Ice demon. Make a ladle." Touya nodded and made one. He handed it to Koronue. Kourone scoop some of it out, and fed it to Kurama.

Slowly Kurama's green eyes opened.

"Is everyone alright?" He asked as he looked around, but all he saw were fuzzy pictures.

"Yes, Kurama, everyone is" Botan replied

"Who used my plants?" Kurama asked, everyone sweatdropped

"You wouldn't believe one of us did, would you?" Yusuke asked

"I'd be dead if you did. All the plants I had were poisonous to me unless prepared properly. So tell me who was it." Kurama replied weakly.

"It was a bat demon named . um," Yusuke started

"Koronue?" Kurama replied as black spots started to appear in his eyes. " He is the one who. taught me. everything about plants" Kurama said as he started fall asleep once more. "Tell him I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"Yoko, calm down. I'm the one who should be sorry." Koronue replied. "Rest Yoko. I can't have my favorite ex-partner die now can I?"

"I was your only partner." Kurama mumbled as he fell asleep. This time, with no nightmare to plague him.

"Alright Koronue, who exactly are you?" Keiko asked

"Alright. Many years ago, when I was a young Bat, No older then 100. I found a younger demon. A fox demon. Only about 12 years old, He would be the equivalent to about a 3-year-old in human years. He was all alone, which surprised me since foxes are usually family kind of demons and they don't abandon their pups. It wasn't until later I found out what had happened. Anyway, I took care of the pup and taught him everything I knew. About 20 years ago, We were both on a heist. My pendent broke and I went after it. Got stuck in a trap. I told that pup to go ahead. He was hesitant but did as they were told. I was his mentor. But I guess he thought I was dead, until tonight. I knew he wasn't dead especially after the Dark Tournament." Koronue explained the other all looked on intently.

"So what do you want with him now?" Shuiichi asked

"Isn't it obvious, He wants Kurama, to come back to the Makai and help him steal things." Kuwabarra replied

"Boy, Idiot, we were like brothers, I worry about him. You are his friends you must know he can do that very easily to you. I swear." Koronue smirked "I remember this one time. I was teaching him balance all he had to do was jump from one tree to another. He jumped off a cliff about 10 feet away. He was 15 then. 3 years after I found him. He was adorable when I first saw him. Little did I know he was really a devil in disguised. He bit me the first time I tried to feed him. He was in his fox form." At this everyone laughed.

"So you've known Kurama since he was a kid. Was he as cute?" Botan asked

"Was he as good as a fighter?" Kuwabarra asked

"Leave the poor cute bat alone" Shizuro (Is that how you spell Kuwabarra's sister. I can never remember the spelling) said, this caused all the questions to stop. "Besides, we should bring Kurama back to his parents, and explain to them what is going on, as well as who he is." She pointed to Koronue.

"Thank you Milady" Koronue said as he stepped up and kissed her hand. "I would like to meet Yoko's human parents."

"Do we have to wake him?" Keiko asked, looking down at Kurama's sleeping body.

"No, We won't be able to. He should be out for few more hours." Koronue replied. "I'll carry him. Now, Blue haired one, um Botan? Yeah, pick up the plants. Fire demon, scout ahead. Now detective lead the way, coz, I don't know it." They all nodded. Yusuke started to lead the strange group of 14 down the path to the Minamino-Hanataka campsite.

There they found Genki, Shiori and Kazuya around the fire. Kazuya was trying to get Shiori to eat something; Shiori had a somber look on her face, as she started aimlessly at the fire. Genki was eating silently next to her.

"Grandma." Yusuke said

"Genki" Botan greeted as she drew nearer.

"I see the fox is still live. I can also see you brought a bat with you." Genki replied, Kazuya looked up to See Koronue carrying Kurama. Shuiichi right next to him.

"Shuiichi are you alright?" Kazuya asked

"Dad! Shuuichi's alive. He woke up after Koronue gave him some medicine. Didja know that he is an old friend of Shuuichi. They were like brothers." Shuiichi said happily s Koronue placed Kurama on the ground.

"Hello, I'm Koronue. I'm a friend of your son." Koronue extended his hand.

"Shuuichi, is he alive?" Shiori asked

" Yes, ma'am he is" Koronue replied, Shiori looked over to where he had placed Kurama. Botan was putting a wet cloth on his forehead.

"Shuuichi? Botan is he alright." Shiori asked weakly.

"Yeah, he is. But he has a slight fever." Botan replied, Shiori started to cry again,

"He's alive. He's alive. My baby's alive."

"Don't cry mother." Kurama muttered as he slowly opened his green eyes.

"Shuuichi." Shiori started

"Don't," Kurama started but he started to cough " Don't call me that. It isn't my name. My name is Kurama."

"What are you saying Shuuichi?" Shiori asked a bit scared.

"Sixteen years ago, I was shot down by a hunter. With the last of my strength, I fled the Makai and went into the human world to be reborn as your son." Kurama started before he started to cough.

"Yoko, be careful. You must rest if you want to recover." Koronue replied

"No, I had to wait ten years to have all my powers returned to me. My plan was to return to Makai, but then you grew ill, and I couldn't leave you. So I stayed and Hiei cam to me with a proposal. It was to steal these artifacts. I got the Forlorn Hope. I used it to heal you, from when you were sick. That was how I met Yusuke and Botan." Kurama stopped as another fit of coughing came over him.

"Son, stop. You can tell us in the morning." Shiori told him, as he stopped coughing.

"I'm trying to tell you, I'm not." Kurama stopped as he passed out.

"Shuuichi?" Shiori asked franticly.

"It's alright. He just passed out." Botan said trying to calm her down.

"What was he trying to say?" Kazuya asked

"I think it would be best if you all sat down. We will explain the parts Kurama left out." Yusuke explained " You see, we are a very unique group of people. See 3 of us have died, 8.5 of us are demons and 4.5 of us are humans. And one of us is death."

"Which one of you have died?" Kazuya asked, things were starting to get a little too strange for him.

"Yusuke, Genki and Kurama" Kuwabarra replied

"Alright, I know I'll regret this, but how did they come back to life." Kazuya asked again.

"I brought Yusuke back to life. Genki was brought back after the Dark Tournament. Kurama was brought back as Shuuichi Minamino." Botan answered as she counted her fingers at each name.

"Demons? Aren't they fake. And have do you have a .5 demon?" Shuiichi asked

"Well, they are basically everyone except Kuwabarra, Shizuro, Keiko, And Genki. I'm a half demon and half human." Yusuke replied

"You said there are about 8 demons, but there are 9 of you." Shuiichi said.

"Well Botan, is a ferry girl." Yusuke said, "She is basically death."

"So. That means Shuuichi, or Kurama as you call him, just wanted to use me to get stronger?" Shiori asked her eyes looking down.

"Shiori." Kazuya started

"That may have been how it started, but that is not how it ended. WE demons don't really know the meaning of love. It's easier to find betrayal than to find love. His parents were killed in front of him, when he was ten. I took care of him since. He has never experience loved. And when he did he can't really remember it. But seeing how he cares about you, then he must have found how it, and I doubt he was to leave. That's a small flaw in him. He can get a bit clinging." Koronue replied emotionless. Shiori was slightly taken back.

"I don't wish to be rude, but hasn't it occurred to you, that if he needed 10 years to gain his strength, then why is he still here 6 years after." Botan asked softly.

"I don't know anymore. I just don't know anymore. Could you please leave? All of you?" Shiori asked as she started to cry.

"I'm staying, Koronue? Hiei?" Botan stated "Kurama's not fully healed yet.

"True, I must stay, since you might poison him with the wrong plants." Koronue replied causing Botan to blush in embarrassment.

"Hn. You all would be to slow to get the important plants if they are needed." Hiei replied

"Alright then. The rest of us will return home. Genki would you like to come back with us? What about you Touya?" Keiko asked

"Sure." Genki replied as Touya just nodded.

With that everyone but Botan, Hiei and Koronue stood up said their farewells and left.

The camp area was quiet. Botan had pulled out the blue rose Kurama had given to her earlier that week, and just stared at it. Hiei was in a tree nearby the camp. Koronue was sitting on a log next to the fire thinking. Shuiichi was looking after Kurama; Shiori was looking at the fire. And Kazuya had gone to get some water.

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Hope you like. This took me about 2 weeks to actually type. It was awful. I still have about 3 more stories to type. ;-; Poor me. Any ways. One more chapter to go. He he. Yes, I'm drunk on orange juice. The chapter should be up soon. The I can start on my Yu-Gi-oh. I can't wait. But then I'll have nothing to do. ;-; (starts crying again). But OH Well. More free time. Any who. Until next time.

C-ya.