-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 1: OUTCAST
...............................................................

"K'so. It's like they took all the S-class youkai and left us with the God damned B-class bone-brains!!" Yuusuke growled and kicked a barrel containing something that was probably useful to the war they were fighting. A tall red haired man stepped forward and placed a hand on the other's shoulder.

"Yuusuke, you know that your troops are at the disadvantage because they have not fought in a long time. You mustn't make them believe themselves worthless, or they will be so."

"And what about you, Kurama?" Yuusuke glowered at his friend. They had been through this before. "Why don't you and Hiei help us?" He knew the answer. He'd heard it a thousand times and although he wished that his friends would fight for justice rather than where they belonged, or just staying neutral, as they were doing, he completely understood his friends' plight.

"We are youkai, Yuusuke." Kurama's voice took on a serious tone, almost self-reproachful. It was a tone Yuusuke rarely heard from the red head. "We are youkai, and we will be of no use on the field. We will be sighted and ambushed as traitors and despite our strength, we'd be dead within a half-hour of fighting." It was true. And it wasn't as if their remaining neutral meant that they were completely detached from the war. Both Hiei and Kurama had ushered ningens to sanctuary and helped in the Reikai.

"Do you know how everyone is?" Yuusuke asked, changing the subject. A curious expression crossed Kurama's face before it settled into a neutral expression, and he passed on the information to the leader who was nearing wits' end.

"Keiko is with Shizuro and Yukina. They are in a safe place, along with my family. It is likely that they will not be touched by this war. I can promise you that, Yuusuke." Kurama added seeing concern enter his leader's face. "Hiei is currently watching the land there." Yuusuke's expression turned incredulous.

"THAT WILL ATTRACT ATTENTION TO THEM!! What would a YOUKAI being doing parading about a seemingly harmless little place?"

"They do not know us for what we are, Yuusuke. They see a youkai, they see a friend and fellow warrior. They see a ningen or a being from the Reikai, they see an enemy and nothing more. It is the compensation rewarded us for remaining anonymous in our support of the Ningen and Reikai plight."

"Gomen ne, Kurama. I didn't mean to bite at you like that, it's just that I'm getting so damned tired. This stupid war is running me ragged." Kurama smiled sympathetically.

"At least you have Kuwabara heading some of your forces." Before Yuusuke could respond to his friend there was a flash of black and Hiei appeared at Kurama's side. "Ah. Hiei, have you been relieved already?" The fire demon nodded and Kurama smiled.

"I have news from Koenma. Kurama, he wants to speak to you." Kurama frowned.

"Would you like to tell me how I can contact him?" Kurama asked, becoming a bit more serious than usual. Yuusuke smirked, he had learned to read the youko and it was quite clear that Kurama did not appreciate the demi-God's escape to the Reikai, which had thus far remained untouched by the war thanks to the attempts Yuusuke and the others were making in the Makai, although it was threatened and thoroughly involved nonetheless. Hiei looked at the red head thoughtfully, then nodded.

"He said that you should go to your room." Kurama looked startled, then nodded and ran up the stairs of the decaying castle that was serving as their base camp.

When Kurama reached his room and opened the door he came face to face with Koenma and he nodded his head and shut the door. Since there was only one chair in his very tiny area, Kurama offered it to the little God and sat on the bed.

"Kurama. I will jump directly to the point. I am sending you away from the camp. You are not to come near it unless it is absolutely necessary. As an S-class youkai you should have no problems earning the respect of the opposing ranks." Kurama went pale and looked confused.

"You're sending me away? Against my will, to fight for the opposing ranks!?! Koenma that makes no sense at all and it will probably get a lot of people killed!" Koenma shook his head.

"You did not allow me to finish." Koenma looked very serious and very drained, and Kurama knew that even though Koenma had run away, he was still working hard towards a seemingly impossible peace. "I'm sending you to stay in a town called Banshou. It is occupied by kitsune, and kitsune alone. You will stay with them. They are well acquainted with the legends of Youko Kurama, I think it would go over better if, from now on, you stayed in your youko or kitsune form." Kurama frowned, he was being kicked out, and denied the chance to help his friends.

Koenma handed the redhead a small vile. "This is something I had cooked up for you. It will give you the power to switch forms freely from now on. From youko to ningen or to kitsune, whenever you want. Take it now, in front of me."

Kurama couldn't believe that Koenma was so untrusting of him. He clasped the vile in his hand and looked once, pleadingly, at the little God which had thrown trouble his way time and time again, and had earned the badge of a friend. If he took this, there was no way that he could turn down the "mission". It would be a sign of acceptance. Well, what else was there to do with an order like this but to accept it.

Kurama took the vile.

______________________

Hiei looked up as his lover came down the stairs and did a double take. Kurama was in his youko form!! What the fuck was going on? Kurama looked up at Hiei then Yuusuke, and turned his face away, walking towards the door. Hiei was about to go after him when Koenma appeared.

"Urameshi. Kurama is leaving. He will not return until he is ready. Leave him be. Hiei, you are to join the traveling group of youkai that are stopping at the enemy's camp in this area tonight. You will operate as a messenger and will be our soul contact to Kurama. It is very important that you maintain contact, he is a key player." Hiei frowned. Like HELL he was going to lose contact with his lover!! With a curt nod Hiei dashed out the door to say a proper good-bye to his fox. Something the youko had failed to do.
--------------------------------------------------------

Jessenia: please let me know what you think. I am trying to hurry, but there has been so much work this year...Sorry minna.

standard disclaimers apply.