Author's Notes: This chapter marked the official beginning of the Writer/Reader Reversal contest, which nobody really enters. Bummer. It also marked the day Niyali got DSL, with the promise of faster/more updates. We know now that DSL only led to more Internet surfing...and less updates. Funny how those things work.

So Far: Yusuke's learned exactly what the "Freedom Slaves" are for--for jobs that Toguro forces them to do. And for the money Toguro makes off it--even if it could mean one of their lives.

This Chapter: Yusuke contemplates his meaning to the Freedom Slaves while Kurama struggles to avoid the sadistic desires of Karasu.

Chapter Nine:
One of Us

Dewdrops sparkle in the moonlight, reflecting off of every blade of grass and leaf. Stars twinkle overhead--there isn't a cloud for them to hide behind. The night is cold, despite how hot the day was. It's so quiet, so peaceful. How could anybody not enjoy such beauty?

But even the stillest water will ripple when somebody touches it, and then the illusion of calm is ruined. It is the same tonight, as a cry of pain shatters the stillness.

In a small clearing, one of the only areas where the trees allow a clear glimpse of the stars, Kurama lays on the ground, clutching his right arm. Blood flows around his hand, staining his sleeve and dripping onto the grass that is beneath him.

A boot connects with his ribcage, and he is flung backwards, connecting with a tree and sliding down to rest on the ground.

"Are you tired already?" a voice mocks, "We have a long way yet to go, and we must be at the plantation by morning." Kurama grits his teeth against the pain--if only he didn't have the cursed bracelet! "Of course, if you're too tired to walk..." The speaker steps into the moonlight, which reflects off his long black hair. "...I could always carry you."

That is enough for Kurama. He struggles to stand, ignoring the pain in his arm and the slight annoyance breathing has become.

"You will never touch me," he whispers roughly, "Karasu." Karasu smiles, but Kurama can't see it, for Karasu's mouth is covered by his mask.

"We will see about that, my dear slave," Karasu murmurs, purple eyes shining with a strange and spooky light, "We will see."

..::--::..

Yusuke was getting heartily sick of midnight revelations, but he couldn't sleep again.

He had his own room, now--up in one of the towers. Jin's room was right above him. Yusuke didn't think he wanted to know what all the banging was about. He half-expected Jin to fall through the ceiling at any time. That would be funny.

Or not, since it was his room.

He'd gathered that the people he now lived with were strange, but he didn't think they were that strange.

Well, maybe not. What was so strange about wanting to escape slavery? All the slaves wanted it. But how many did he know who would try and keep trying until they either died or succeeded? Let's see, if he counted himself...

Ten. Before yesterday...

Zero.

Jin, Touya, Kurama, Hiei, Jorge, Genkai, Koenma, Yukina, and Botan. They'd tried numerous escape plans (and they kept a record of all of them), and when each one failed, they came up with another one. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" was quite literally their motto.

Was he one of them? True, he was just like them--in captivity, at least. But it seemed that compared to them, he was just a raw amateur.

Did he deserve to escape? If one of them could, would it be him? The others had been there longer--they had seniority.

Did he belong here?

Crash.

His train of thought was promptly interrupted as Jin fell through the ceiling, landing with a thud on Yusuke's floor.

"Jin," Yusuke moaned.

"Sorry," Jin apologized, getting up, "Didn't mean to do that!" Seeing the look on Yusuke's face, he frowned. "What's the matter, Urameshi?" Sighing, Yusuke told him. Jin's frown deepened.

"Of course you belong!" he exclaimed, "Why would you think you don't!? You're one of us now, Urameshi-and I don't know what slaves were like at Suzaku's but here it's all for one and one for all. Nobody gets left behind--no matter what." When Yusuke remained silent, he continued, "Don't worry about it! It doesn't matter who you are, or what you look like--short, tall, fat, if you have horns--" he pointed to his horn for emphasis, "--or fangs, or a third eye, it doesn't matter. You're one of us now. And that is all we really care about." He grinned. "Now, if you don't go to sleep, I'll make another hole in the ceiling--this time it'll be one you can't fix!" Yusuke laughed; Jin grinned wider and flew up to his room. After a few bumps, he was quiet. Yusuke found himself dropping off to sleep whether he liked it or not.

One of us...

..::--::..

Morning came all too soon. Yusuke was literally pulled out of bed, locked in his bathroom until he was clean, and dragged down to breakfast by the too-cheerful, too-energetic Jin. However, when the two of them entered the kitchen, the mood was in no way happy. Jin seemed to sense this and sobered down.

"No sign of him," Touya said, blandly, as the two sat down and helped themselves to some food.

"I wish we knew where he was," Yukina sighed, pushing some eggs around on her plate, "I hope he's all right." Yusuke didn't need to ask who "he" was. He was pretty sure he knew.

"Lessons?" he asked, instead.

"Not today," Botan replied, "It's because of Kurama's absence--we find it's harder to focus when we don't know where our friend is." Hiei entered the kitchen, the look on his face grim.

"Karasu's gone," he reported. Everyone looked horrified.

"Poor Kurama," Yukina murmured.

"We've got to do something!" Jin exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the table.

"And what are you proposing we do?" Hiei asked, turning his red eyes towards him, "We can't interrupt his job--Toguro would have a fit and kill us all!"

"But we have to do something!" Jin protested, "We've at least got to find him--maybe if we go after him, Karasu'll be more reluctant to harm him-"

Yusuke's fork hit his plate with an audible clank. All eyes turned towards him.

"What's wrong?" Botan asked, seeing Yusuke's wide-eyed expression as he stared straight ahead. He slowly turned towards her.

"I think I know where Kurama is."