Time rushed on, and Hiei searched everywhere for Kurama. Several times he had run into his fellow comrades, but had continued past them without a further word. There's no way that Kurama would be able to manage on his own, for he was wounded. Although, he had a sneaking suspicion, that was what their opponent was counting upon.

"Kurama, how could you be so foolish?!"

As he ran, moisture built in his eyes. He began to remember how he had treated Kurama after the battle. Acted as if he didn't care for him, treated him like nothing but dirt. Maybe, the only reason Kurama was doing this was because of how he had been so cruel. Hiei stopped running, as his whole body seemed to quiver.

"It's...it's all my fault..."

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

Muruko didn't answer, but she showed no sign of fear.

Smirking, Karasu nodded to both Muruko and Yomi. "Well then, if you have no more information you wish to share with me, I will return you to your proper, most appropriate forms." He grinned behind his mask. Raising his fingers again, he snapped them together.

Frowning, Yomi and Muruko both shrank and became the small crows once again. Enabled with sight again, Yomi no longer remained still. Instead he hopped about flapping his wings and blinking his black eyes.

"Now my pets, prepare yourselves for our guest. He will be arriving very soon, and I expect that you will give him the best of care possible." Turning upon his heel, Karasu unlocked the door and trundled from the room, jacket tails fluttering behind him.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

Kuwabara and Yukina had returned to Kurama's apartment, and Yukina had kept a very watchful eye upon Shoiri. "Oh, Minamino..."

Cleaning up the mess of feathers and blood, Kuwabara looked over at Yukina. "She still hasn't come to?"

Sadly, Yukina shook her head. "Not yet..."

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

Looking to the sky, Kurama could tell by the position in which the sun was in that the hour was approaching. "Karasu...I don't care what you do to me, just don't touch the ones I care about...or I promise you, that I will see your death is slow and painful!"

His emerald eyes sparkled with ferocity as he clenched a fist. He had wrapped his abdomen, though the wound was beginning to reopen again. Kurama had set an ointment upon his neck wound and it supposedly created a fake scab upon his wound.

He was ready.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

"Hiei...oh, Hiei..." A voice floated upon the winds as the Youkai wallowed within his sorrowful feelings towards the Kitsune.

Blinking, Hiei looked around, not in the mood to be playing games with another shadowed figure. "What the hell do you want?"

"Just you." Karasu stepped out behind Hiei and before he could turn around, a fog of smoke tunneled in and he choked upon the gas. Hiei fell to the ground, unconscious.

Picking Hiei up by the scruff of his jacket, Karasu sneered. "The scenery is set, we have the supporting cast, now all we need is the main character..."