Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this gentle adventure... especially for the one who will not abandon a friend. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess where InuYasha is concerned. All due respect is also offered to Yoshihiro Togashi, whose fervid imagination is responsible for YuYu Hakusho.

An Affinity for Trouble

- 31 -
Spirited Away

Hiei landed lightly on the Higurashi's roof and darted over the tiles, his mind reeling over Kurama's uncharacteristic recklessness. For someone so smart, he sure can be stupid. What was he thinking, going in there alone? Dropping onto the narrow ledge under the only lit window at the shrine's residence, he pushed open the slider and vaulted over the sill. "You!" he snapped.

The priestess Kurama had been consorting with jumped, but she recovered quickly. "Kagome," she corrected.

"Right," he tersely acknowledged, though he couldn't care less what her name was. "I need you to come with me."

She frowned and set aside her schoolbook. "Why?"

"They took Kurama." Hiei braced himself for a hundred pointless questions, but the young woman surprised him.

"Turn your back," she demanded sharply. "I need to get dressed."

Crossing his arms over his chest, the demon complied, tapping his foot impatiently.

In less than a minute, Kagome called, "Ready. Erm... what else will I need?"

Red eyes swept over the young woman's new attire. She'd changed out of her pajamas and held a bow, quiver, and running shoes. "Courage," he gruffly replied.

"Of course!"

Her chin lifted, resolve glittering in her eyes, and Hiei relaxed just a little bit. At least I won't have to coddle her. Withdrawing a vial from inside his coat, he pressed it into her hand. "We're going in there, and we're going to find him. If he's in bad shape, he'll need this right away."

"What is it?"

"It would kill you," he warned, "But it'll change him into Youko."

She smiled faintly. "Power up, huh?"

"Hnn."

Further explanations could wait. Scooping Kagome into his arms, Hiei spirited her away into the night.

- 32 -
Cling

Kurama faded in and out of consciousness, wrung out from his most recent 'interrogation'. The beatings would have been easier to endure if he'd had the satisfaction of withholding information, but there were no questions. They already know... or they don't care. Either way, my life is worth nothing.

At times like this, the temptation grew stronger for the demon within to cast aside Minamino Shuuichi and all his attendant weaknesses. The powerful kitsune that was Youko Kurama could wrest free of this boy's fragile frame, shedding humanity like a cocoon. He'd long-since regained the strength he needed to sustain himself. However, Shuuichi's human heart was surprisingly determined, stubbornly beating for the sake of another. Whether out of gratitude or perhaps out of curiosity, the fox chose to honor the strength of that desire. For now, he needed to be this boy.

One moment dragged into the next until a voice reached him through the haze of his pain. Fact or figment... at first, he couldn't tell. Feather light touches teased at his senses, sharpening his focus until words began to register. "–rama... Kurama, can you hear me? Oh my goodness, what have they done to you?"

- 33 -
Spoonful of Sugar

Kurama winced as a hand slipped under his chin, gently lifting his drooping head. Eyelids fluttered as his bangs were pushed aside, and he forced his eyes open. Not Hiei. It took a moment for recognition to filter through the muddle in his head. Kagome?

"There you are," she murmured, clearly relieved.

He blinked in surprise, not sure if he should believe what he was seeing. Are you real?

The young woman's face was pale as she fumbled for a moment, then pressed something to his lips. "Can you swallow?" she asked, carefully tipping some liquid towards his mouth.

Pungent fluid dribbled down his chin, but Kagome caught the precious elixir with the edge of the vial. "Hiei-sama says you need to drink this," she gently urged. "Please try, Kurama."

The tip of the redhead's tongue flicked out, and he immediately recognized the flavor coating his cracked lips. Time-ebb flower. He blinked hazily at his rescuer, working his dry mouth to try to form words, but all he could manage was a feeble nod.

"I'll help," Kagome whispered, pressing his head further back before fitting the vial between his lips. This time, the drops of liquid slid over his tongue, and she petted his throat to encourage him to swallow. When he'd drained it all, she wrapped her arms around him and tried to hold him up. "Everything will be okay now... right?" she asked tremulously.

Kurama wished he could wrap his arms around her, find his voice, anything. As it was, all he could do was count backwards, automatically marking the seconds that remained between the him that was Shuuichi and the him that was not. Reversion was imminent, so Youko would have to be the one to allay Kagome's fears.

End Notes: These three drabbles were written for the Live Journal community fanfic(underscore)bakeoff and their Secret Ingredient for September 2010—Surprise. The drabbles are 283, 197, and 292 words respectively. Posted on September 16, 2010. FanArt: If you slip over to my profile, you'll find a link to an illustration for this story. FoxOfTwilight and I made a swap of story for story art, and we can all enjoy the results! Go see!