I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho fandom or characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and to Toshihiro Togashi. I do not make any monies or profit from the writing of this story.

Thank you, thank you to those who took the time to review and to those who made this story a favorite! I really love to hear your thoughts and comments...Please let me know what you thought of this chapter as well whether good or bad. As you can see things are moving right along. I apologize for Kurama's ooc in this but after what he is going through I deemed it a logical reaction. Thank you again!

Enjoy,

DawnFire_ice

Chapter 25

Soft honey brown eyes looked down at the confused crimson haired male. He could not suppress the joy he felt at seeing the former avatar alive and whole—well, as whole as he could be now that he and Youko were in different bodies.

"How do you feel?" he asked gently stepping back.

"Awful," Shuichii croaked. "My body feels strange and my voice sounds terrible. I am also having visual hallucinations I think," he whispered.

Koenma shook his head. "There is no easy way to tell you this...Youko is not a hallucination and you are no longer in the same body. During your mission your soul got taken into the soul stealing mirror. I could not revive you until now, but putting you back in to the body you shared now that Youko's youki has had a chance to take over it would have killed you. This was the only choice. Youko gave up a tail for you and I created you a body with it. I recreated you exactly as you had been, however it will probably take time to adjust."

"Youko gave up a tail," Shuichii echoed numbly. He was in shock as he struggled to comprehend the action. Kitsune tails were their most precious possessions. They contained the power that a kitsune acquired with age and time. In essence Youko had given up a couple hundred years of power, time and strength to bring him back. Shuichii was stunned to silence.

The silver fox shook his fur almost huffily as though to say in a rather casual way, it was nothing. However it was not nothing- to the young man who was alive because of the sacrifice and he knew that it wasn't to the fox either. The crimson eyes that hadn't left him once told him all that Youko could not speak at the moment.

"So Kurama-" Koenma began but a graceful hand raising stopped him.

"Shuichii... Kurama was the name I called myself to identify us both, but I guess I am just Shuichii now." His voice was a little stronger now and less raspy so it was easier for the sadness in that voice to be heard.

"Shuichii, you should get some sleep so that your soul will bond with your body. The more bonded you are, the less things will be awkward in it. Youko will be here with you as I am certain that not even the Apocalypse would drag him from your side now. Good night you two," Koenma said with a smile as he slipped out of the room.

Shuichii waited until the door shut behind Koenma before his head drooped. His normally bright eyes were dimmed and watery as his rampaging humanoid emotions ran rampant. He was too exhausted to wipe away the tears that would not be held back, but too ashamed to look at the fox while they spilled. Truthfully he was overwhelmed and distressed over being permanently severed from the kitsune he'd known since the beginning of his existence, but aside from that he was unsure how to live without him. Now that he was more human than youkai would Youko abandon him to live here in the Makai as he had always planned? Was he destined to live alone? He didn't want either of those things. All of this was so confusing to one like him who thrived on skill and cunning never allowing anyone really close to them...no to him. There was no them, not anymore.

"Youko, how do I live without you?"

His sorrowful whisper drew the silver fox to break the distance he'd given the young man while he cried, knowing that he would not welcome an audience even if he had been once a part of him. Youko crept over until his head rested on Shuichii's bare leg. Youko gave a little lick to his knee before looking up at him with sad eyes. Absently Shuichii ran his fingers through the silk of Youko's fur. After a few moments of letting himself wallow in his pain, Shuichii jumped rather awkwardly to his feet and walked to the clay shelves that had been built into the wall. Methodically he chose his night clothes and dressed. The mattress made a rustling sound as Youko climbed up and curled himself with his head resting on the spare pillow.

With years of habit coaxing him Shuichii brushed his hair the required amount that Youko had always insisted on before slipping into the bathroom and brushing his teeth. After returning to the main room, Shuichii dropped to the floor and tried to do his usual routine. From the bed Youko gave an annoyed yip when Shuichii nearly fell on his face. It would take time to adjust but Shuichii was stubborn. After getting through a third of the routine Shuichii sighed and got up. With a shake of his head he climbed beneath the blankets.

Youko watched his other half silently as he began to breathe deeper and slower. Sleep, it seemed, would come on swift wings tonight. It had been a long and trying day. Sleep would be healing and by morning he should be back to his humanoid form. Then they could talk. Youko cast his eyes to the locked door separating them from Kagome and Hiei. If the hybrid was awake this would all have been easier. Hiei could have helped him reform the connections to Shuichii's mind so that they could converse in this form. But then again, they were not the same. Youko would have to get used to not hearing every thought and Shuichii would have to learn to feel comfortable in his own skin. He yawned before tucking his nose in Shuichii's hair and drifting to sleep.

Long slender fingers combed through crimson hair absently as Youko watched his other half sleep. It was strange to watch those eye lids twitch rapidly as Shuichii dreamed a dream without him. What an odd feeling it had been to awaken and realize that the night before had not been merely a sweet dream but was real. It had taken all of his control and more not to gather the sleeping male up into his arms and hold him while he slept. As it stood Youko did not know what Shuichii's feelings about him were. For all he knew perhaps the young man felt nothing for him. Ah, but he knew that was wrong. Hadn't Shuichii cried last night in loss? Or had it been fear?

Youko twitched his tail impatiently. He needed Shuichii to wake up so that they could talk. Perhaps he should go get him some breakfast; beings like Shuichii needed to eat more often like humans right? If it came to that wasn't Shuichii a type of hanyou? He was no longer an avatar so what would he be called? A half-ling? It didn't matter to Youko one way or the other. It didn't change his affections for Shuichii at all. They would be like brothers, they might as well be. (That's going to take some time to adjust to…) Youko thought with a sigh as Kurama hadn't answered his quip (yep definitely an adjustment.)

The fortress was still relatively silent, its occupants still sleeping for the most part as Youko sauntered to the kitchen and helped himself. Picking up a large plate he selected the best fruits and jerky from the larder. He also pilfered a pot of tea that was waiting to be served along with the entire tray it rested on. The pancakes smelled good. Smirking to himself over his success Youko made his way back to his room.

Shuichii woke with a start. Verdant eyes scanned the room for any sign of the kitsune and then lowered to shaking hands. Youko had left. Swallowing heavily he tried to smother the feelings welling up within him that were making his eyes burn. He'd cried enough... more than enough; tears wouldn't help him now and he was not about to allow himself to show that kind of weakness again... to anyone. Shuichii was many things but he was not weak. With or without Youko he would survive. He had to because he couldn't let himself fail.

A scent reached his nose and he blinked in confusion at the door. He hadn't called for a tray and Hokushin was usually unwilling to serve anyone a tray in bed unless directed to do so by Yusuke so why was-

Shuichii felt his eyes widen as the door opened with a soundless motion. The tall figure who entered made his mouth go dry as he shimmered in the morning light. Triangular ears twitched as citrine colored eyes turned to meet verdant. The slender, lithe figure moved gracefully to the bed and sat down never spilling anything from the too full tray he carried. Without breaking eye contact, slender hands began to unload the tray into a picnic type layout on the huge bed.

"I thought you might like some breakfast..." that silky smooth voice purred out as the kitsune lay on his side.

Slowly the red haired male nodded, unwilling to trust his voice. His eyes watered from the effort of holding back his emotions.

"You should eat while everything is hot, Red."

The familiar nickname finally broke the wall holding back his emotion and for the second time Shuichii cried in front of Youko. This time however Youko did not turn away but instead pulled a confused half-ling to his chest and whispered words of comfort to him as he cried. "Don't look at this as a hopeless lonely existence, look at it as an opportunity to finally learn who you are. For the first time we can talk to each other face to face and touch each other. Finally I can feel the warmth of you against me as I hold you like I am now. Instead of sharing memories we can make some together."

The startled pause in Shuichii's silent tears made Youko's eyebrows raise, "Shuichii, you didn't think I would confess my feelings only to run from them when face to face with you, did you?" He tapped Shuichii's nose lightly with a claw. "Even like this you are mine and I don't give back what I steal."

"I'm not in love with you, Youko. I care about you but-,"

"I know, I thought we could be like brother's instead of lovers."

The verdant eyes that had been filled with tears too strong to hold back were suddenly looking up at the kitsune with a thoughtful frown. "If you are the thief, what does that make me?"

"My greatest treasure? Or my accomplice. You pick."

Dark lashes fluttered against pale skin as the light from the morning touched a slumbering face with soft bright rays. A frown marred the sleeper's lips as they tried to deny the tug of their mind back to wakefulness. Beside them a second form breathed softly as the scents in the room filtered to his nose. How long had he slept? He silently wondered as his eyes opened to scan the room. An inky black spill of silken strands caught his attention and he looked down with a concerned carmine gaze upon his mate. In the early light, he could no longer see the bruises that had blemished her perfect skin, he could no longer smell the scent of old blood from cuts and scrapes that had healed. She was flawless as before.

Hiei lifted the blanket to see his beloved's body. His eyes lingered on the scars that littered her body from when she was human. The star where the Shikon no tama had originally been torn from her body looked smaller and less pronounced than before but it was a reminder of her survival. Her breathing was slightly harsher than normal but she showed no sign of discomfort or of waking.

Slipping silently from the bed Hiei moved around to the other side so that he could see her face that was turned away from him. She was unblemished showing no sign of the day before. His hand tightened into a fist as a growl reverberated through the room. Regardless how she looked now, how had he been so blind to not notice the damage she had sustained the day before? Obviously she had spent too much energy or she would be waking now.

Turning and swiftly dressing Hiei stormed out of the room. He needed to kill something. Slowly. Painfully. But even that would not satisfy his fury at his mate's condition. He had no one to blame for how she was, except himself. He should have stopped her. He should have tried harder to force her to stay out of the fight. He should have done anything prevent the Shikon from waking fully, but he hadn't known about that until it had been far too late. It was his duty to see to her protection, not for her to protect him! Damn it! He still couldn't believe he'd been caught from behind!

Now outside and away from sight of the fortress, Hiei punched the stones viciously. There was only one choice for him to take- One way to ensure that Kagome was never going to protect him again, because he wouldn't need her to. Hiei would have to get stronger. He would have to delve deeper into the forbidden archives in Murkuro's fortress and find any way to increase his power past its current limit. He would have to grow stronger than the jewel...stronger than the dragon...he would have to surpass himself, but could he? Was it possible? According to Mukuro, he was at an "S–class", making him one of the most feared classes of youkai. With his dragon he easily ranked just slightly shy of Yusuke at an "S- class", why wasn't that enough? Why with all his power and strength was it not enough to protect Kagome from herself?

It was that damned jewel! If Kagome didn't have it... if it wasn't part of her... then he would be more than enough to protect her. If it were not for that cursed bauble Kagome could be a regular woman...but then he never would have looked twice at her. Hiei sighed. The jewel was Kagome and Kagome was the jewel. He had to accept that there could be neither without the other. Kagome was powerful and for that he was proud, but her power was his opposite. True he was impervious to it but everyone else was not. Others would come to destroy her out of fear, but if he was stronger, if he could attain some type of legendary status, perhaps that would protect her.

"Hey, dumb ass. Yeah you!" Hiei glared as he looked around. Now what? He glanced at the hilt of Tetsuaigua and drew it.

"I know how you feel but, you have to understand something. First you are more powerful with me. And second- what the hell are you doing leaving Kagome unprotected! Are you completely insane. She just unleashed a power that will be talked about for centuries and coveted by some nasty individuals…you know what I'm talking about right?" Hiei growled at the ghost who seemed a part of the fang. "You can't leave her unattended right now. I did that too often to her and I nearly broke her spirit. Don't be stupid-don't be me Hiei. Even if you are leaving for her good let her know. I can't even tell you the regrets I had when I held Kagome's near lifeless body and realized if I had just been there-,"

Hiei's eyes widened and he remembered that pain that all consuming pain of the moment realizing he had failed her and she had died at his hands… "I do, understand what you are saying however I won't say that I appreciate your interference from beyond the grave," Hiei growled at the ghost of Inuyasha.

"Heh- funny thing, this is my punishment for leaving her when she needed me. My soul is bound to the Tetsuaigua. I chose you Hiei. I was the one who gave you my power to protect her like I failed to do. I won't interfere with your relationship, but I am going to teach you how to properly wield me. One thing though don't tell her I'm here. Let her think I moved on and was happy." Inuyasha sighed. "It was after I passed on that I learned that Kikyo was never meant for me. She was a means to an end. I learned about you, not by name, but I knew she had a soul mate. It doesn't happen often that two souls find each other." He cleared his throat, "Nuff said. Let get down to business…

*~*~*~*~*~*.

Yusuke blinked uncertainly as he touched the red haired male's shoulder once again as though trying to determine if he was real. "Yusuke, would you please stop poking me with that infernal finger? I am really here," Shuichii snapped in an exasperated tone with a roll of emerald eyes. Youko frowned at the Mazoku, baring a fang in a silent warning; which he ignored, in favor of flinging his arms around the former avatar.

"You crazy bastard, I am sure glad you are back with us, man! I was worried, ya know! When Hiei told us what happened with that mirror and all, I thought I wasn't ever gonna see your ass again, Kurama!" Yusuke said huskily

"Shuichii," the red haired male corrected biting his bottom lip and slipping out of the Mazoku's hug. He hated how weak he felt now that he was in his own form. "Kurama was the name I called myself before when Youko and I were-" he hesitated, swallowing hard to keep his voice steady before continuing. "It would be best if you just call me by my given name. Youko's name is Kurama."

Yusuke held up his hands to stave off the emotion he could see shining in Shuichii's eyes. It was hard to see the once immovable red head near tears. "Alright, I'll call you Shuichii then. Damn, that's gonna take some getting used to." He rubbed a hand through his hair and changed the subject. "Did you find Hiei? I was kind shocked that he wasn't with Kagome and all. I didn't figure him to be the type to leave her alone when she's injured."

Shuichii sighed as he shook his head. He was grateful for the topic change even as he was irritated at the hybrid. It was a mystery to him too, that Hiei had left Kagome. It was so unlike him, to leave someone he was protecting so defenseless.

"I was on a walk." He stopped and turned blinking again to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. Suddenly the conversation he'd heard made sense. His eyes widened at the sight of his other brother and best friend. "Kurama- Shuichii," he gasped completely out of character but he didn't care. Shuichii was alive!

"Shouldn't you worry about leaving her sleeping and defenseless while we are here in the Reikai? I mean Puu is a challenge but should we really have left her alone?" Yusuke said voicing his thoughts.

Shuichii sighed with a shake of his head. Youko grinned. "Who says I left her defenseless? My plants are guarding her slumber with deadly accuracy. They have orders to kill or detain anything that attempts to enter her room or approach her bed, aside from Hiei, Puu and Yoru of course," he added with a smirk. "I warned Hokushin on the way out."

"Your efforts were useless I brought her with me. She is sleeping in Koenma's office." (Guarded by that damned sword that is going to make my life hell,) he thought with irritation. Whose grand idea was it to bind Inuyasha to his weapon?

Yusuke nodded and relaxed visibly as his eyes drifted to his lover. Botan was busily thumbing through files as she was reorganizing the wall bookshelf in Koenma's study. Koenma himself was preparing for the official ceremony to take the throne. He drew a breath as he leaned back into the familiar couch in the office, everything seemed surreal. He glanced at the other couch where the being who made everything possible slept and the irritable hanyou ghost bound to the sword next to her.

"I can undo the binding." Koenma offered.

"Nah, I deserve this. I should have protected her better in life, it's only fitting I protect her for eternity in death." Inuyasha said his incorporeal fingers going through her hair without touching it. "I heard about Kagome's family, this might sound cold, but leave them dead. It would kill her to lose them again."

"I haven't the power to undo the chain of fate. It was their time and I can't change that. My father did and it drove him insane. I won't be my father."

Yesterday they were waging war with the idea that they might not see tomorrow and now here it was, the day they thought they wouldn't see and Koenma was king. Of course the war wasn't without its sorrows and losses. His head drooped as his shoulders slumped. He still couldn't forgive himself for his city's destruction. The hardest thing to mentally reconcile beyond the buildings, were the people who'd been slaughtered before his eyes. The fact that they had been revived meant little, for Yusuke could still see in his mind the mangled and broken corpses of the ones he'd failed.

A battle roughened hand touched his arm and he looked over into the wise eyes of the kitsune. Youko's lips had turned down in a thoughtful frown as he studied the Mazoku. Finally he sighed, "Don't let your mind focus on the past events that cannot be changed. Look forward to the future and make it better. We can do nothing else." His citrine eyes drifted to the former avatar as he spoke, but Shuichii was studying the expensive tiles on the floor.

Yusuke covered the hand on his arm in a gesture of thanks. "I know we haven't had much of an opportunity to get to know and trust each other but I hope that we will now. I can definitely say that I would rather have you as an ally than an enemy, Youko."

A fanged smirk graced the lips of the silver fox. "Indeed. I would not wish to be opposite you in battle either. You are formidable. I would love to spar with you however, if you are up to it?"

Yusuke grinned back, lifting his index finger and playfully aiming it at the fox. "You're on, Fox boy!" he said jovially.

"Fox boy? I am hardly a kit. Surely you can come up with a better nickname for me than that," Youko said with a slight pout to his lips.

Yusuke looked at Shuichii for help. The other male shrugged. "I never nicknamed him, I just call him Youko," he said softly.

"Can I call you that too?" Yusuke asked rather belatedly since he had already called him by such before.

Youko chuckled. "Of course you may, if you beat me. If I beat you, then you will call me Your Highness."

"Highness?!" Yusuke spluttered as he looked once again to the verdant eyes of his friend. Shuichii was lightly laughing behind his hand as he saw the frantic look on the Mazoku's face. Yusuke, despite the kitsune's words chuckled in response. "I didn't agree to nuth'in!"

Shuichii's voice was slightly deeper and seemed to lack the more darkly sensual undertones of Youko's, though there was nothing unpleasant about it. In fact it was a soothing voice that could have belonged to a radio personality. The half-ling's smile was sad and a little hollow, but it was there. It was a hopeful sight to both Yusuke who had never seen Shuichii/Kurama so depressed and to Youko, who knew Shuichii was having a very difficult time adjusting. It was good to see Hiei laughing too even if it was at their expense.

Any further thoughts and laughter ended as Jorge came to lead the way to the grand throne room. Hiei took a detour to see Kagome and Koenma for a moment.

Koenma sighed again and then froze, "Hiei?" it was a soft confused voice and Inuyasha's ghost vanished. Koenma turned and waited for her to notice him.

"Where am I?-," she gasped "Why am I here! Hiei!" she saw Tetsuaigua and paled "Hiei? Inuyasha?"

"Lady Kagome? I welcome you to the Reikai. Hiei is-,"

"Right here" Hiei said moving to her side to gather her shaking body to him "Onna you didn't think I would abandon you here did you?"

"No-I just I thought-Oh Hiei I was scared and confused I thought for some reason we had failed and- I dreamed that you had left me."Her sleep fogged mind was clearing and she took a deep breath. "Sorry I'm alright now."

Kagome's nightmares were really starting to worry him. The fact that they seemed so real to her was worrying him even more than the nightmares themselves. She hadn't had a good night's sleep since the night they mated and it seemed the dreams were getting worse. Hiei picked up the sheathed fang and tucked in his obi. Kagome eyed the sword thoughtfully she could have sworn she heard her friends voice again. Koenma hurried them out of the office and into the throne room.

The whole affair had been boring and in a completely different language. Yusuke yawned once again as he walked in to his fortress feeling weary and irritated. Youko and Shuichii were no better for the wear. Only Botan was grinning as she gushed about the poetic ceremony. Grinning she poked Yusuke's rib. "You didn't understand a word of it, did you?" she teased him. Yusuke blushed.

Hiei standing behind them rolled his eyes. Kagome had not felt up to being in the ceremony and had been shown to a room in the palace. "To rest a little longer and to recover her strength" was the excuse she gave but Hiei hadn't bought it. She was exhausted and couldn't handle the idea of facing Youko yet.

"Is Kagome feeling any better?" Shuichii asked as Hiei hurried past him.

"Not really." He said in passing without pause as he slipped out the door and disappeared down a long hallway. Hiei planned to return her to their rooms as soon as the coronation had ended. Hopefully she would feel up to eating lunch with everyone, but he doubted it.

"Nope! I'm just glad that toddler is all settled," he said as he leaned back in to the sofa in his living room, drawing Botan back against his chest as he did.

"Yusuke! What is it going to take for you to stop calling me that horrid nickname?" Koenma asked in mock severity as he stepped through the portal he'd opened. His honey brown eyes smiled warmly at his friends.

Yusuke grinned. "It's just habit now, todd-Koenma," he teased in return.

"I just wanted to inform you that I have opened a portal back to the Ningenkai, should you wish to return there. I hid it so that unwary youkai won't stumble through. I think I can safely keep it open for a week but after that you'll have to contact me. But if you bother me just for that I'll have to invite you to eat lunch with me and enjoy my attempt at home cooking..."

Koenma grinned playfully at Botan's grimace and pale face. "Oh, come now, Botan, it wasn't that bad-" Ok so he wasn't a chef but he thought his concoctions were-

"Wasn't that bad?! You put ketchup, mustard and chocolate fudge on cabbage and topped it with marshmallows! And that wasn't the half of it!" Botan burst out incredulously. "Then there was the miso soup you made with vinegar and caramel...Why, just the thought of some of your cooking attempts makes my stomach ache!" she said hugging her midsection.

Yusuke grimaced as he held up his hands "Um...thanks for the offer Koenma but I'm pretty sure that those who wish to will go within the week," Yusuke interrupted. There was no way he was going to try something like that! He could only hope Koenma was teasing but the look on Botan's face made him unsure.

Shuichii and Youko nodded their agreement quickly, while mentally they both were trying to remember the best stomach remedies. "I should gather up some peppermint and dill weed and perhaps something a little stronger..." Shuichii muttered chewing on his bottom lip. Youko laughed.

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Red."

Koenma folded his arms and pouted for a moment. "Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, Kuwabara came home an hour ago. I noticed his energy reading back at the temple. He is with Yukina and Shizuru there. I was going to go see him but I thought maybe-"

Yusuke jumped to his feet Botan cradled in his arms. "What's the hold up? Let's go already! Come on, Koenma, get the lead out!"

"What about Kagome? We can't just leave her here," Shuichii said softly. "Hiei mentioned she wasn't feeling the greatest."

Youko sighed.

"I should stay here in the Makai."

Shuichii's eyes flew to Youko. "You aren't coming with us?" he asked slowly. Panic filling him even as he realized the reality of the situation. Youko couldn't come to the Ningenkai. Even if he wanted to he would draw too much unwanted attention. But there had to be a way! Shuichii frantically searched his thoughts for any possibility.

"You could use an illusion, right?" He said slowly.

Youko shook his head. "I used too much energy to bring you back to hold an illusion for long enough Shuichii." He looked away from the pleading verdant eyes. He could practically taste his other half's anxiety.

Drawing the crimson haired male in to his arms he hugged him for a moment. "Pull yourself together Shuichii. I already told you, didn't I? I never give back what I steal. You are mine and I will be here, so go meet up with your friend." Youko released him and tried to look unaffected by the pain he also felt at having Shuichii out of sight.

Pulling in a shuddering breath Shuichii nodded slowly. Within him his panic at loosing the kitsune was tenfold. He was terrified. The feeling was so foreign to him, that he almost thought that the feeling was not his own. However it was too acute, too piercing and too all consuming to be an echo. Youko wanted him to leave. The pain was like a dagger in his fragile heart. His voice trembled. "You want me to leave?"

"What? No! I'll guard Kagome till you come back," Youko said, perhaps a bit rougher than he meant to.

Why wasn't Shuichii adjusting to the separation like he thought he would? It should have just been taken in stride like everything always had been. Had he influenced the the young man so entirely? Was Shuichii really unable to function without him? If that was the case then, who was Shuichii really? Did he have an identity aside from his own? Youko nearly growled. What the hell was wrong with the male? Youko spun on his heel and left the room.

"It's called depression," Koenma said softly as he stepped closer to Youko. "Shuichii is suffering from the trauma of being forcibly ripped from you and also the fear that you will abandon him. The sudden tears, the fear, it's all part of it. I wouldn't be surprised if he has unprovoked bouts of anger or stops reacting to things all together."

Koenma paused as his voice got softer. "I hate to say it but Shuichii may never be the same Youko; then again he may wake up one day and be alright. Who really knows. The important thing is that you not make his fears even seem like they may come to fruition. Doing so might break him and drive him to drastic measures. Fortunately we have an ace in this situation. We have Hiei. Hiei can fix a mind that is not broken completely and it helps that Hiei is close to the two of you." He spoke gently. "Also I shouldn't tell you this but Kagome can relate to Shuichii's situation as she had her soul ripped out of her body at one point too. She might prove to be a saving grace for him."

Youko sighed heavily. He'd caused this and then he'd nearly run away. Shuichii needed him and if he had this depression then, by Inari, he would find a way to heal him. Running his fingers through his hair he plucked a few seeds from his stash. Of the few he selected a plant that would calm the fears of the younger male.

Now the only question was: how to get him to take it? Being a plant master like himself, having learned it from him from the time he could walk, Shuichii would know instantly what the purpose of the plant was and its effects. Unlike its Ningenkai relatives this plant was best taken raw and fresh as boiling it or heating it would destroy the chemicals that were necessary. He sighed thoughtfully as he resolved himself to the only way possible...he would have to give it to him mouth to mouth. It wasn't as though he minded the idea of kissing Shuichii, quite the opposite, it would be however a new experience for Shuichii to kiss him and it would make things awkward with the idea of being like brothers.

Shaking the possibilities, both positive and negative, aside, Youko grew the plant and using his claws clipped off the bits he would need before regressing the plant into a seed once more. Normally unless he knew that the particular plant would come in handy again, he would take the seedling he'd used and plant it in one of his numerous gardens. This time however he tucked the seed back into his hair. He had a feeling he'd be using this plant often. Beside him Koenma watched.

After looking at the Reikai King and nodding to him Youko returned to the room where Shuichii stood staring at his shoes. Youko's keen ears could hear the steady plop of tears as they dripped from his face. Unacceptable. Shuichii could not continue this way. Slipping the leaves and a small segment of the stalk in to his mouth Youko crushed it with his teeth and then in one fluid movement pulled Shuichii in to his arms and using the gasp he gave to his advantage slanted his mouth over the other males.

Shuichii's eyes widened at the feel of Youko's mouth on his and he struggled in his arms uselessly for a moment not knowing why he bothered to do so. Youko's lips were soft like velvet as they covered his own distracting him from the slight bitter flavor that tinged his taste as Youko passed a familiar tasting plant into his mouth and forced him to swallow by stroking his throat. Why was Youko using this tactic?

Shuichii pulled his lips from Youko's as the taste registered in his nearly fogged mind. 'Passionflower, part of the benzodiazepine, or valium family. The aerial parts of this herb are used for nervous tension and anxiety,' his mind identified as the sedative began to take affect far quicker than normal aided by Youko's youki. As he relaxed into Youko's arms he found that under the plant's effects, he could deal with the facts a little better. The grip of relentless despair didn't have him now and he closed his eyes, comforted by the smell of menthol and roses that Youko exuded naturally. 'Time will heal this...too,' he thought as his mind surrendered to the calming effects of the plant and he slept.

Youko frowned at the sleeping male in his arms. The passionflower should not have knocked him out so thoroughly. It should have dulled the fear and worry but left him conscious. He chewed his lip thoughtfully before he slipped out of the room heedless of the stares of the other occupants in the room.

"So I guess that Shuichii is staying here too huh?" Yusuke said rubbing his hand through his hair. It wasn't that he was totally uncomfortable with what he'd seen, but he was a little bit confused. What the hell was that about? Youko comes into the room and suddenly lip locks with Shuichii right in front of him? Weren't they still kind of the same person or being or whatever? (Wasn't there some law or something that said you couldn't date or mate yourself?)

"It is not like that. Youko was force feeding him a dose of some sedative, he was sure Shuichii would reject. However he acted rashly and will only confuse them both." Hiei said with a frown. Yusuke blushed not realizing he'd spoken his statement aloud.

Yusuke rubbed his temples at the start of the headache coming on. Ugh, this was way too much to think about. It had to be simpler than he was making it. Shuichii was the human soul and Youko the youkai soul. Hadn't Hiei said that they had been divided? So then Youko hadn't kissed himself, he'd kissed Shuichii. But why had Shuichii then collapsed? It didn't seem logical that Shuichii would faint over a kiss, unless Youko was just that good...He gawked at himself mentally as his thoughts had taken a confusing turn. Botan's lips brushed his throat and he gave up thinking all together as he turned and caught her lips with a short scorching kiss.

"Let's go bring Kuwabara and Yukina home."

"I will stay with my mate. She is blaming herself for the battle and for her barrier failing." Hiei sighed uncharacteristically. Since the battle his mate had been different more withdrawn and she wouldn't speak to him of her troubles. It bothered Hiei more than he cared to admit in front of his friends and brothers.

"What?!" Youko said as he stood there with a frown. Kagome should not be blaming herself! If anything she should be proud of her power which saved everyone. Why was she shouldering the blame?! "I know she is your mate, Hiei but don't let her withdraw fight for her and help her through this. Something isn't right, I saw her as she left and she told me-'for Shuichii'. She is mourning."

"As I thought," Hiei nodded slowly. "How long will Shuichii sleep?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Hiei; it shouldn't have knocked him out." He frowned looking back at the sleeping male watching as his chest rose and fell with breath.

"It can't be helped then, bring him." Hiei stated before he flickered out of sight. Youko walked over and gathered the limp form of Shuichii in his arms and quickly followed after the hiyoukai. He just hoped Hiei knew what he was doing.

A/N: Depression has many sides and faces causing emotional breakdowns in even the strongest people...