"I know you're here, just come out and show yourself." Hiei yelled to the swaying trees. He had seen a blur of black fly by shortly after the small noise, and he knew that something was about to happen.

One of the trees let out a cry of screeches, and at least twenty black crows flew out of it and circled Hiei. All screeched their annoying caw, flapped its wings wildly, and spread its claws out attempting to strike Hiei but none did.

His eyes watched every crow individually, though, only one really caught his eye. Raising an arm, he stood still only hoping that his suspicions were correct.

The swarm of crows dispersed but the special one remained. It fluttered its wings and landed lightly upon the outstretched arm, and gazed into the Demon's red eyes. Its crest turned a crimson red in the light and the chains clattered as it rocked back and forth from foot to foot.

"Muruko?" Just the thought was idiotic. He was asking a crow a question. A crow. It probably couldn't even understand what the hell he was saying.

Cocking its head to the side, the red crest pressed against the crow's head, and released. The chains clattered together again, and the crow looked Hiei straight within the eye.

Raising a brow, Hiei felt a wave of power surge right down his spine. He shut his eyes with the weird sensation, and the crow flew off. Though, before it was totally out of sight, it let out a shrill screech.

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaakaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiii!"

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"Lord Kaaraaasuuu! Lord Kaaaraaasuuu!" The first jet-black crow flew in the open window.

Karasu strode through the corridors of the dungeons and followed the screeching of his crow. His expression could not be totally seen, but by the flames growing within his eyes he was not pleased.

The Demons within the cages reached out at Karasu as he strode by but he did not seem to care. At all.

Upon reaching his crow pet, he closed the door and window. Locking both, he crossed his arms and snapped his fingers.

The crow hopped to the ground, and soon grew in size. Shortly after where the crow had been stood a figure. He wore a torn cape and his black hair was ragged and split ended. Two horns grew from his forehead, as well as four others that grew from his head covered by his hair. Three pairs of ears stuck out from the side of his head and his milky white eyes were narrowed, even though he could see nothing out of them. A bit of green smoke-light hovered around the figure in a restricting manner.

"Karasu you ass hole." He sneered as he tried to break the smoke, although it seemed near impossible.

"Come now, Yomi. That's no way to talk to your new master."

"You tricked me into becoming your slave, Karasu. I only wish for revenge on Kurama..." He clenched his teeth together and began to grind them.

Karasu frowned. "You will do nothing that might destroy that delicate form, Yomi. Or I will personally see to it that you will never wished you were born."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but that's already been done. By that damn Kurama."

The red crested crow perched itself outside the barred window, and pecked at the glass.

"Behave yourself, Yomi. Wouldn't want to spoil your reputation in front of your authorities." Karasu walked over to the window and opened it allowing the crow to enter. Snapping his fingers again, she too turned to her true form.

"Good to see you, Muruko."

"Indeed." She sneered. Trying to keep the fact that she had exposed herself, a secret, she frowned at the world. At her home, she had been preparing for the preparations for the Makai Tournament, and Karasu appeared. Before she knew what had happened she was being controlled by the Demon and was transformed to a crow.

"It's a shame, the only one who knows your true identity will be dead before he can tell anyone." He spoke in a monotonous voice and didn't even bother to face the Makai leader.

"What are you talking about?" Muruko tried to hide her emotions by putting up a facade but fear could be seen within her one good eye.

"Oh, my dear...you know what I mean. Do not pretend you are stupid, for I know you aren't." He rubbed his pointer beneath her chin. "Say another word to anyone, and I'll rip your tongue out."

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"Kurama!" Hiei's eyes flashed. "What's going on?!" He yelled after the crow as he began to sprint off in the opposite direction.

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Wearing his new garb, a top with a flaming dragon and a pair of white pants, Kurama stood in a forest of bamboo. He awaited the hour in which he was told to go to the Konai shrine. He would not fail his friends and family.

"I've chosen. I've chosen you to be the one, I am willing...to die for."

Hiei's words rushed through Kurama's mind. "I want you to know, Hiei...wherever you are...that I've chosen you as well. I would die a million deaths...just to save you one time... Just once..."