AN: I should stop trying. I can't update in the middle of the week, I just don't have time. It's sad...but it takes almost an hour to do review responses and a final edit. So...sorry, but at least for now updates will remain one per weekend. Hopefully more Saturdays and fewer Sundays. This chapter is pretty long. Not really long, but not short either.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Warning: See previous chapters.

So many thanks to all my reviewers!

DarrkKatt: Heh...updating regularly can be hard. But hopefully I'll never leave a fic quite that long...

darksaphire: This chapter is a little longer, but sorry to disappoint...Youko actually gets worse. But then he gets better, I swear!

Dark-kitsune-dreams: Thank you! And yes they were made for each other...despite the height difference...

Koritsune Dragonrider: ::bows:: Thank you. Wow...one of the authoresses that made me want to write Kurama/Hiei fanfiction read my story. Now that I have an account, I need to reread your fics... And I think that idea will come in later...

What2callmyself: Yep, Hiei cares! Again, not as soon as I would have liked, but not too long a wait.

Rekka: Don't cry! This chapter is longer!

animefreak54: I'm updating! Glad you love it! It's not quite New Years...

KayHiei: Actually Yukina's house has to wait a little. They have a few more crises to avert first. And I am a sucker for romance-y happy endings, so what do you think'll happen?

Elearwen: Thanks! And I will as soon as I find the time, which should be soon. I promise!

Zidet: I'd want to talk to you too! In theory I have yahoo messenger as well, but it doesn't really work...feel free to email me though! It's in my profile. Please don't cry, you can find out now! And thank you very much!

Chapter X

Sick

Youko was alone again, and Karasu was behind him. It was so dark Youko could barely see. He winced as Karasu softly ran his claws over the burned and bruised skin of Youko's shoulder. "You are still mine," Karasu said. "I own you. You are mine forever." Youko tried to pull away from Karasu but found he couldn't. He snapped back, "You're wrong Karasu. Hiei will..." but was cut off as Karasu interrupted him. "Hiei? That pathetic, weak demon? He will what. Protect you? He couldn't protect anyone, even himself." Youko smelled blood again. He could almost recognize the scent, but not quite.

He woke out of the nightmare with Hiei shaking him. The fire demon's hands were cold, like ice on his bare shoulders. That was odd; Hiei's body temperature was much higher than Youko's...

Once he saw that Youko was awake, Hiei let go, then set the inside of his wrist on Youko's forehead.

"Kitsune, you're burning up. You have a fever; why didn't you tell me you felt sick?"

Youko looked up at the demon sitting next to him. He was having a hard time comprehending what Hiei had said. "A fever? What? Oh," as the thought registered.

Then he was assaulted by a headache. "Ugh," he groaned. "My head. I didn't know I was sick." He closed his eyes to ease the headache, but then he saw the vision in his dream.

Karasu...claiming him again. Hiei...just not there. Blood...but who's? Youko whimpered.

Hiei set his hand on the Youko's head again. "Shhh," he soothed the obviously frightened as well as ill kitsune. "It's okay. It was just a nightmare. What happened?"

"The same one as before, with Karasu in the dark room and smelling blood. But this time he said you couldn't protect me." Youko answered, wincing as his headache throbbed through his entire skull.

He felt Hiei leave, but was too tired to care where the other demon was going. Hiei returned shortly. Youko glanced at him. This illness was bad, and getting worse. It was hard to see straight. What could have hit him so quickly?

Hiei sat by Youko's futon again, and using one hand held Youko's head up. With the other he held a cup to Youko's lips. The kitsune drank, trusting that Hiei would help him.

The stuff was hot and bitter, like some sort of odd tea, but Youko drank it down. He slipped into a doze shortly after.

Hiei nodded, relieved. The tea he had made Youko drink contained painkillers and herbs that would fight off the sickness or at least keep it from progressing. However it would have no affect if the recipient were poisoned. Thus Hiei was able to rule that unpleasant possibility out.

The peace did not last long. Less than an hour later, Youko cried out again. Hiei could feel the kitsune's fear and revulsion, probably once again attributed to a nightmare about Karasu.

Hiei had been half dozing in a sitting position on his futon, but quickly rose and went to Youko's side.

To his surprise, the kitsune was already sitting up, and he was holding something. Hiei couldn't tell what it was for a moment, and realized just in time to save Youko's life.

He pulled the unsheathed knife out of the kitsune's hand and placed it aside. Youko had had the dagger out and had been in the process of cutting his wrists. The cut was just started; very small, and not too deep along the inside of his left arm; but if Hiei hadn't gotten there at exactly the right moment, Youko would have killed himself. Even if Hiei had gotten there seconds after the cut was complete, in his weakened state Youko would have died of the blood loss.

Youko looked up at Hiei. The look on his face was one akin to anger and sorrow, but his eyes were frightening. They had a wild look in them. It was a look of someone without hope of any kind, someone that wants to die, because even Hell must be better.

Slowly sense returned to Youko's eyes, and he started crying. Once again Hiei found himself in the unfamiliar role of comforter as the kitsune sobbed.

Youko's fever was not any better, though he seemed less delirious. After crying for a good half-hour, he just slumped on Hiei's lap, too drained to even move.

Hiei gently moved the kitsune back to his futon, and got up to make another cup of tea for Youko, careful to take the knife with him. One suicide attempt was too many, thank you.

This particular batch of tea contained painkillers and sleeping herbs rather than medication. If he drank it, a hundred dreams wouldn't wake him, though the potion should make the sleep dreamless.

After successfully getting the weak fox to drink the cup down, and sitting with him for the ten minutes before it took affect, Hiei started to plan for a detour to a healer in the morning.

oooooo

The next morning, Hiei was up before the night sentries went off to sleep. He hadn't been able to sleep out of worry for his charge. There was no way he wanted to leave the fox alone after the previous night's frightening event.

Youko was still sleeping somewhat peacefully due to the drug Hiei had given him, but it would wear off in a few hours.

Hiei spent his time acquired by insomnia gathering things together. He wanted to take the kitsune to a healer, a trip that would take a few days. They wouldn't need everything the fire demon had brought with them from Karasu's castle, but they would require some supplies.

As soon as the sun was up, Hiei called for a lower fighter. The same wolf demon as the previous day entered the tent and bowed. "Is there something you require my lord?"

Hiei tossed two full packs over. "Put these on my horse. The fox and I are going somewhere, and we will return in a few days. Please keep everyone here unless something happens. If something does, move them to our other campsite."

After seeing that the demon was doing as he requested, Hiei went to Youko. He picked the fox up, still wrapped in a blanket and sweating from fever, and carried him out to the waiting horse.

With minimal help, Hiei and Youko were once again on horseback. Hiei started off on as smooth a trot as the horse could manage.

They made their way back through the camp, exiting into the forest on a different side than they had entered. Hiei knew where he was going.

There was only one place he could think of to go where he wouldn't be arrested. The surrounding land, including the towns and villages on that land, belonged to Karasu. By now the demon lord would have found out that Hiei had disappeared with Youko, and would no doubt have sent word to the surrounding areas to find the pair. Going to most towns would be like begging Karasu to capture them.

Hiei was taking Youko to a healer that was in with the resistance against Karasu. Unlike many healers, who were in the business for profits, Cree was one of the few true healers left. He could find what was wrong with the body or the mind, and could sometimes fix it without use of medicines or a knife. He was one of the last beings, human or demon, with a genuine gift for healing. As such, he hated suffering, so he would not fight. However, he hated Karasu's cruelty, so he would resist him.

Hiei wanted to take full advantage of this man's abilities. Youko was injured in his body, but there were definite wounds in his mind as well. Those wouldn't heal without help.

The man's shop, such as it was, was a half-day's journey from Hiei's camp, and was in a secluded part of the deep forest. Hiei kept watch, but allowed himself to relax a little.

oooooo

Youko started stirring an hour or so into the journey. Hiei looked down at the fox. "You okay Kitsune?" he asked. "You scared me last night."

Youko looked away from Hiei, glancing at the path ahead of them. He found it odd how comfortable he felt. There was no real mental comfort, though he felt protected by Hiei. He meant that physically, and for the most part emotionally, he was comfortable. He was basically sidesaddle in Hiei's lap, and that didn't bother him. He didn't feel weird at all, though he really should have. He even felt safe, and would trust Hiei to protect him. Thoughts from the previous night hit him hard. 'Karasu was right. Hiei would not care for you if he knew you like Karasu does. You are a useless piece of trash. You belong back with Karasu.'

Youko felt his eyes sting. He wanted to cry, but didn't want to appear weak. He was weak, but the sooner Hiei realized it, the sooner he'd abandon Youko. If he found out what Youko was...

Hiei broke through Youko's dark thoughts. "You should eat Kitsune. You need food, and you should drink more of that tea. We'll stop in a little bit. You might as well sleep. If you need to be awake for some reason, I'll get you up, but you should conserve energy."

Youko listened, but did not speak. He allowed himself to close his eyes, but not to sleep. He didn't want to remember, and sleep would make him.

They continued moving quietly, Hiei thinking and keeping watch, Youko pretending to sleep.

The pair reached a clearing after another hour's trek through the woods. Hiei touched Youko's shoulder gently. Youko opened his eyes slowly as if he had been asleep. Hiei nodded to the open space around them. "We'll stop for just a little, all right Kitsune? We can eat and drink before continuing."

Youko nodded. He wondered where they were going, but didn't want to ask.

That surprised Hiei. He'd grown used to Youko's questioning, and was a little worried at the fox's silence. He decided not to press though. Youko didn't have to talk if he didn't want to.

Hiei helped Youko down from the horse's back, and jumped down as well, carrying one pack.

Youko sat on the ground where Hiei left him, still lost in worried thoughts of Karasu. He only looked up when Hiei offered him some of the food he'd brought.

Youko took the food; some bread and a little fruit, but carefully avoided Hiei's eyes. Hiei watched the fox nervously eating. Finally he said, "Kitsune, is there something wrong? You've been acting like this all day. Are you all right?" Hiei winced at how harsh that had sounded. He didn't want to scare the kitsune. 'No, I'm sure he's fine. He only tried to kill himself last night.'

Youko looked up quickly, then back down at his plate. "N-no. Really, I'm fine."

Hiei wasn't convinced, but he handed Youko a flask of the tea he'd given him the night before. It was actually a mix of both teas, so it would help Youko heal, and make him sleep.

Youko took the bitter mix gratefully. He didn't want to think right now, and that drugged tea helped a great deal with that. He finished the food, then drank the tea.

Hiei packed up what they'd taken out, and had to carry the already half-unconscious fox back into the saddle. As they started to move again, Youko muttered something to Hiei, "I am so sorry. I have lied to you. You don't know what I am. I'm sorry Hiei..." The words were cut off as Youko drifted off the rest of the way.

Youko was asleep, for real this time, and Hiei was glad of that. He was worried about Youko, because something was clearly wrong. The sooner they got to the healer, the happier he'd be.

To be continued...

AN: That concludes another lovely chapter. Sorry if you're mad that Youko isn't better yet. Don't hate me! After this bout is over with, I'm pretty certain he will get better. Just bear with me, okay? I also apologize if it seems I am drawing events out or stretching my story. I'm not trying too!

And I wanted to ask your opinions on something. The plot bunny wants me to pair Yukina with a female OC. I could also have Yukina paired with no one and have a shojo-ai OC/OC pairing. Or I could try to get by without doing any shojo-ai pairings, though I don't think it works as well for the fic. So...what do you guys think? I want to do the first one, but the second one'd work too. If I do a shojo-ai pairing, it would be minimal and only in a few chapters. Nothing above PG. Please share your thoughts on this! And on the fic so far. Thank you in advance!