Chapter 11

(Happening around the same time as Yusuke & Hiei's conversation)

Kurama had slouched to his right and was panting as he tried to control the spirit yoko. When Youko was finally calmed, the red head began mumbling incoherently. "Amai…I'm…sor…ry…sh…should…ha…ve… t…t…old…so… sor…for…give m'."

Kuma could only watch as the red head lost consciousness, again.

The boy watched helplessly, unable to understand what was happening to the red head as he curled into a fetal position. Seeing a fresh batch of blood, Kuma sighed and went to move Kurama so he could look at the wound, but just as he went to touch the red head, he jerked his hand back, his sharp ears hearing a low, almost canine, growl emanating from the man.

'What the?' Kuma thought.

A noise from the front of the cave made Kuma look up to see Shura walk out of the darkness, covered in dirt and sweat.

"Well, well. It won't be long now." He said as he came into view.

"What's…what's wrong with him?" Kuma asked, standing.

Shura looked down at Kurama before answering the boy. "He's going mad." He said bluntly then gave a soft smile as he watched the boy's face contort in confusion. "You seem to be a bright boy." He continued. "Though I wouldn't expect any thing less from the son of a yoko." He squatted down to study the red head up close. Ignoring the low rumbling growl still emanating from the weakened man, Shura grabbed the red ponytail of hair and tilted Kurama's head forward sharply so he could see the back of his neck.

Shura looked up as he heard a gasp from the boy. Yellow/green eyes were wide as they took in the scene. The mark on the back of Kurama's neck, the one he thought was just a minor injury the red head had received from the fight, was black. It was charred to the point it looked like rotten, burnt flesh

"What?" Kuma whispered with a gulp.

But just as Shura went to answer, he pushed Kurama away from him forcefully while letting out a yelp. Looking down at his arm, Shura saw blood and made out four clawed lines running down his forearm. When he looked back at the red head, he saw gold eyes looking at him and he smirked. "My, it seems the caged fox is trying to come out and play."

Kurama managed to turn his head some. "Oh I will get out and then you will have the honor of suffering the same fate as your father." The mixed voice said.

"You bastard!" He yelled and went to kick the red head.

"STOP!" Kuma yelled and was surprised it actually worked. Shura's head turned to look at the frightened boy.

Kuma watched as Shura approached him and he said the first thing that came to mind. "You've been keeping us here without telling us why."

"You are a smart little bastard aren't you?" Shura said, pausing in front of the boy. "You weren't supposed to tag along." He told him with a cock of his head. "Though I guess I can't complain, for now you'll have the honor of dying by your father's own hands."

"Why do you say that?" Kuma asked, his body was trembling ever so slightly, but he managed to keep his voice neutral. "You said Youko was my father, that can't be, he's dead and now you say that he." He pointed to the red head. "Is my father…that can't be right either because he is part ningen."

"Let me tell you a story." Shura started, walking back towards Kurama and looking down at the red head to see that his eyes were still open and gold. Looking back at the boy, he continued as he walked around the red head. "Over a thousand years ago, a spirit yoko by the name of Youko became the greatest thief in all of Makai. But he hadn't earned that title alone. No, he had a band of loyal men at his side, but no matter what they did for him, he still got all the credit." He paused and squatted down next to the red head who was still omitting a low rumbling growl, he was also now sweating profusely and shaking ever so slightly.

"I don't need a history lesson." Kuma said.

Shura ignored the remark. "His second in command then was a man by the name of Yomi…I'm sure you've heard of him."

Kuma answered. "You mean one of the former Lords…the one who ruled over… Gandhara I think, many years ago."

Shura looked up with a smile. "So you have heard of my father." He said.

Kuma's eyes widened. "Your father?" He said.

"Yes." Shura said standing. "My father was Youko's second in command and he would have done anything to make the yoko notice him." He looked to the boy. "For you see, Yomi was head over heels in love with Youko, but the arrogant yoko would not give him the time of day. My father watched day in and day out as Youko took many male and females to bed, but not him. Yomi tried everything…only to be turned down. To get out his frustrations, he'd started defying Youko, doing his own heists and taking foolish risks." He waved his hands to and fro. "Only to still have Youko take the credit. Apparently Youko soon became annoyed by his actions and sent an assassin to kill him, but he didn't succeed…he only ended up blinding my father."

Shura paused and Kuma took the moment to sit next to Kurama. Slowing, he started to check on the red head's wound, trying to ignore the growling. Shura didn't say anything as he seemed to be lost in the past. He finally continued the story.

"Hundreds of years past with my father in hiding trying to re-learn how to live again, without his sight and the man he loved. In the mean time Youko disbanded his men and went solo, but later teamed up with a bat named Kuronue. Just when my father was ready to face the world again, Youko was attacked by a hunter and apparently 'killed'."

Kuma was able to move Kurama to his back and redress the wound. He kept his movements slow and tried to appear calm as Shura still looked off lost in thought.

"My father then spent years building his strength and empire to rise and become one of the three Kings of Makai. Then along came the Dark Tournaments and one year the rumors started that Youko was seen fighting. My father couldn't believe it, he'd heard the rumors that the yoko had somehow defied death and was living in the Ningenkai. It took him a few more years, but he finally found his love." Shura looked at the red head and Kuma looked as well.

"You're saying he's Youko." Kuma said in disbelief.

"The one and only boy." Shura said with a smile.

Kuma looked at the red head in complete disbelief. How was that possible, he wondered, though some things did make sense now? "Why now?" He asked.

"Many years ago, my father knew he was going to need an heir to rule his lands one day." Shura began to answer. "And he was able to find someone who he thought would produce him a strong off spring." He looked to the boy, making sure he had his attention. "She was the fourth King of the Makai…her name was Taiga." He paused to watch the boy's face.

"That…" Kuma couldn't believe it. "That was my mother's name." He finally said.

"Yes." Shura said with a nod. "So you at least know her name."

Kuma just nodded, but then asked. "Is Yomi my father as well?"

"Oh no." Shura said. "She didn't produce him any heirs."

"Then who's…" Kuma went to ask.

"I was born in a tank, created from my father's genes." Shura answered.

"Then how...?" Kuma went to ask, looking to Kurama. He could see the red head looking at him and noticed his green eyes were gold.

"My father managed to get his fox and he and Taiga were having a great time playing with him one day." Shura said.

Kuma just cocked his head, not understanding.

Shura continued, again lost in thought. "My father was able to tell me before he died that it was Youko who'd done those horrible things to him and that Taiga had betrayed him…by getting pregnant."

a)a)a)a

Yusuke laid back against the furs, pulling Hiei closer to him. The fire demon had yet to regain consciousness and the raven haired found himself running his fingers through the black tuff of hair, lost in thought and losing patience. 'Damn Enki and his rules.' He thought. This was one of those times he still wished he was a Reikai tantei, for then he wouldn't suffer any repercussions for his actions. But there is no longer tanteis and now he had to follow all the laws that have been set by the three worlds or face direr consequences, up to and including his death.

The doctor had come in several times to check on the fire demon, also to say that he'd found nothing more on the mark and why it was turning black.

So when the doors burst opened, brown eyes looked up, expecting to see the doctor, but it was his second in command, Hokushin. The raven haired sat up and whispered in the fire demon's ear. "I promise you, I'll bring him back." He said then got up while being careful not to joggle the fire demon too much. 'For I need him as well.' He thought, but asked. "Have you found something?"

"Yes my Lord." Hokushin said with a bow. Mukuro walked in as he began to speak. "There have been sightings of a man that resembles Shura in the Mori no Hitei Forest."

"Why does that name sound familiar." Yusuke muttered to himself, but then said. "Okay, it's a start. I'll go and check it out." He informed, heading to the door.

"But sir." Hokushin called out, stopping him. "Have you gotten permission …?" He went to ask, but was cut off.

"I can't wait for Koenma any longer." Yusuke answered. "I'll deal with the consequences. Right now I just want to get Kurama back." With that, he turned and headed out.

Walking down the halls, with Mukuro not saying a word as she followed behind him, the raven haired cocked his head when he saw Koenma walking towards him, Bones right behind him. "Does this mean you finally got off your ass and got what I needed to cover mine…if not, I'm going anyways…consequences be damned?" He told the Lord.

Koenma held out the scroll he'd taken from Jorge. "You don't even have to read it." He said. "It basically states you can take whatever action needed to get Kurama back."

"Good, because I've got word as to where they might be." Yusuke said, but then said with sarcasm. "And now I can go in and clean house with a clean conscious."

"Where?" Koenma asked.

"In some forest…the Mori…something…I was going to look at a map." Yusuke said.

"The Mori no Hitei forest." Bones said with a gasp.

"You've heard of the place?" Yusuke asked, seeing a haunted look wash over the dwarf doctor's face.

"The Forest of Denial." The doctor gulped. "That's where Taiga and her daughter are buried." He finally said.

'Oh, now I remember, THAT place.' Yusuke thought. 'Wait.' "Taiga's dead." He said with a raised eyebrow, but then asked. "Okay…but why take Kurama there?"

"Yusuke." The raven haired looked to Koenma. "I thought going through Taiga's file might help find some clues as to Yomi or who…here, read this." He just stopped and held out a file.

Yusuke rolled his eyes, but took the file. He really didn't have time for this. Now that he knew where the red head was and got the go ahead all that was on his mind now was to go and kick some ass. Flipping a few pages and not seeing anything that he didn't already know, he quickly flipped to the end to see where Yomi's former Mistress had died a few years after giving birth to twins. "So, she had some kids." He said, looking up at the Lord.

"Read the next page." Koenma said.

The raven haired huffed, but flipped to the last page and his mouth started gapping as he read. "You…you've got to be kidding me." He said softly.

"I'm afraid it's true." The Lord said softly. "My father also hid the fact that Yomi died within a few days after your last encounter with him and I think I'm beginning to understand why."

"You mean to tell me that I've been sending my men out chasing a ghost." Mukuro said from behind the raven haired's shoulder. Her one eye reading as he did.

Koenma sighed. "I'm sorry…I had his file tagged and even I hadn't received word of his death. My father personally stamped the papers and has them locked in his personal vault." He informed.

"Bastard." Yusuke said through clenched teeth.

"Most of the time." Koenma muttered.

Bones looked at the file when Yusuke lowered it, it was still opened enough for him to read it and even his eyes went wide as he read the last part. 'So it's true.' He thought.

a)a)a)a

"So you're telling me that my mother wouldn't give Yomi any children, but she ended up getting pregnant by Youko." Kuma said.

"Yes and that's what destroyed my father. Taiga came to him after he'd been defeated and was laying there near death. He begged her to stay with him, but she didn't. She told him goodbye, but not before telling him that she was pregnant with Youko's child." Shura said as he moved to tower over the red head to glare at him in loathing and hatred. "That bitch had the nerve to get pregnant by the man that my father had come to despise. And he died with nothing…his palace destroyed and his lands are now divided between Lord Urameshi and Lord Mukuro. I didn't make it back in time to make my claim and I had to see everything he'd worked centuries for lay in ruin…knowing that it had been done by Youko and his mate Hiei."

"What…what are you going to do with us?" Kuma asked, seeing the pure hatred Shura was giving the red head.

Shura chuckled. "I'm going to let Youko kill his own son and then when he is truly insane from what he's done, he'll beg me to end his life." He said. "Now that he is bonded to that fire demon, I can kill both." He then muttered. "This is an added bonus I hadn't counted on." Looking up to the boy, he added. "I know Taiga is buried here. I'm going to bury you two right next to the bitch who played a roll in my father's downfall." He then mused. "I've personally dug the graves."

Inside Kurama's mind, it was Youko who'd been growling as he listened to Shura ramble. He couldn't believe what all he'd just heard. 'So Taiga had become pregnant that night.' He thought. He personally wasn't there, for he had hidden himself in the farthest reaches of Kurama's mind. He'd only emerged after feeling how weak, almost near death, Kurama was and had 'tapped' into some of the images of what, even the red head still vaguely remembered, transpired that night with Yomi and Taiga. 'And Yomi died.' He also thought. "It would seem I need to have a 'personal' talk with Koenma." He muttered. Which now brought up their situation, to do that would mean they needed to get out of here alive.

Looking over to Kurama, the yoko knew that without having access to his healing abilities soon, he would die. The wound was just too bad and he had to admit, if it came down to that, he would rather feel Kurama die while unconscious, while he himself suffered, stuck inside by the wards. He didn't want to watch Kurama go mad, screaming for Hiei and not being able to do anything about it. Though the thought did make his heart ache for the fire demon and the suffering he would go through until his end. But he was determined to not go down without at least rescuing Kuma, which meant he needed to take Shura into the afterlife with him. It was the least he could do for the Makai, by ridding them of a nuisance and who knows, it just might help him score some points with King Enma when it comes time for his judgment. "It will also be for you Yusuke." He said softly. He'd already come to the conclusion that Hiei would be in no shape to come for them, so that left Yusuke and he found himself sadden to think it will more than likely be Yusuke that finds Kurama's body. "I am sorry, dear friend." He muttered with a smirk, thinking it ironic that he was almost killed by a hunter, only to turn around and most likely be buried by one.

Shaking his silver mane, to force those images and thoughts out, he started pacing the limited space trying to think of a way out, while still semi-sane, for he was beginning to lose it somewhat with his confinement. Remembering Shura say, "Well it seems the caged fox is trying to come out and play." And giving his reply, made him realize they could hear him communicate. He looked back over at the red head, thinking, 'but only when he is comatose in some way'. A few times he'd forced, but there were a few other times the red head had been unaware of what was going on.

Forming an idea that just might work, Youko went over to the bars closest to the slouched red head and laid down. Biting his bottom lip, he slowly pushed his arm between the bars, trying to keep it in contact with the floor. The bars immediately began to crackle and spark, activating the wards, but he ignored the pain and managed to touch Kurama's foot. The smell of burnt flesh filled his nose, but he continued concentrating on touching the red head. He heard Kurama moan as he thumped his foot.

"Kurama." He said, giving another thump and then watched as green eyes fluttered opened. "Kurama, can you hear me?"

"Wh…at." Kurama managed to say while trying to focus on the fox.

"I need you to move closer to me." Youko said.

The red head didn't say anything, just gave a sluggish nod and began to slowly move.

"That's it, give me your hand." Youko encouraged.

Kurama managed to scoot close enough to reach out a shaky arm. Youko continued to reach as well, managing to touch the tips of the red head's fingers, then enough so that when they both curled their fingers tips, Youko was able to pull the red head to him and grab his hand firmly. They both let out piercing screams as the wards around the bars began to flare into flames.

Kuma and Shura both jumped as a piercing scream echoed through the cave. They looked to see Kurama's eyes wide and the wards in his hair smoking, this was followed by a flash of light which made the two cover their eyes. When the two could see, their eyes landed on Kurama, who was now standing. Shura's eyes widened as they watched the semi loose red hair, smoking and flicking silver. Then gold eyes glared right at him before shifting to Kuma. "Time for you to leave." The mixed voice said.

Kuma had begun backing up as he watched the transformation. Realizing he was being told to run, he maneuvered around Shura and ran out of the cave.

Shura gulped as the gold eyes focused back on him and he heard. "Time for us to play."

End Chapter 11