Chapter five:


Kasumi knew it wasn't long before Ryushi returned to her room, but she used the time to think about slipping out of her room and escape. She could always kick Ryushi in the balls and make a run for it.

She shook her head, "No, that won't work…he has all those damn henchmen."

She pouted slightly as went to the table and looked at the burned vase again. Kasumi knew that sulking would get her nowhere, but there was defiantly no way to escape Ryushi's mansion. Besides, she had no weapons; she dropped her bamboo sword outside of the warehouse the day before. There were no plants of any kind in the room, except the burned roses, which were now just ashes on the table.

Kasumi was getting rather sick of this game. Ryushi had already made his morning visit and was probably either cursing her out or still unconscious by now. Maybe he had learned his lesson about not heading to her warnings by being knocked out and hopefully Ryushi would learn to keep his hands to himself and not be his normal perverted self.

"When will he come?" Kasumi asked herself, "Kurama…I pray that you come soon. Even if that was just a dream…well, I just hope it wasn't."


At Kurama's house Shiori was now hoping that Kurama was all right. He had been in his room all morning and didn't come out. Noon, was now quickly approaching and all Shiori could do was wait for her son to come out of his bedroom and then she would talk to him and see what was bothering him.

In fact, Kurama was all right, but he had left his room through the window and was now making his way to the Urameshi residence. He was going to meet Yusuke at his house, and of course Yusuke wouldn't be at school, he always cut classes or didn't even bother going to class or school.

"Yo! Kurama!" Yusuke shouted from a corner.

"Oh, hi, I was just on my way to your house," Kurama said.

"Oh? Are you cutting school?" Yusuke asked jokingly.

"No, my mother thinks that I am sick, but that's not the point," Kurama replied.

Yusuke only nodded, "So, are we going to go to my place?"

The two boys walked off to the Urameshi residence where they meet a very drunk Atsuko. As usual, Yusuke was use to coming home to see his mother drunk and smoking a cigarette.

"Heh heh, don't mind my mother," Yusuke said, "she's always like this."

"What was that Yusuke?" Atsuko asked.

"Mom, quit bugging me. I'm in the middle of an important conversation," Yusuke replied.

"Oh? Is talking about me so important?" Atsuko shot back.

"Ugh…not really, but that's not what Suichi came here for," Yusuke said stressing Kurama's ningen name.

Kurama and Yusuke sat in Yusuke's room talking. Kurama thought that it was most important to talk about that dream he had earlier that day and to find a way to hopefully get Kasumi out of the mess that she'd gotten into.

"It was bizarre; it was like I was connected to her. I wouldn't even call it a dream anymore…it was just too real," Kurama said, "every sent and feeling was real. Kasumi said that Ryushi was harassing her and that she is being prevented from leaving by talismans."

"Huh…that is odd," Yusuke replied. "Did she say where she was being kept?"

"No," Kurama replied. "She didn't, but I have an address."

"Eh, An address? So, do you have her number too?" Yusuke said jokingly.

Kurama suppressed a growl in his throat and glared at Yusuke as if to tell him that this was no time to joke. Yusuke then let out a slight nervous laugh.

"So, what's our plan?" he asked still with the sound of nervousness in his voice.

"Well," Kurama stated, "your idea was interesting, but it doesn't sound promising."

"My idea?" Yusuke wondered, "What was my idea?"

Kurama sighed, "That you and Kuwabara would take care of Ryushi."

"I could use a good fight," Yusuke chuckled.

"But, we need a plan that will work not get us deeper in to a mess," Kurama said.

Yusuke looked around his room with a confused expression crossing his face. He ran his hand quickly through his dark hair and thought silently for moment. An aggravated expression came over his face and he yelled aloud in frustration.

"Dammit!! I can't think!!" Yusuke yelled.

"Try calming down first. We don't have much time left as it is," Kurama stated calmly.

"How can you be so calm? You like her don't you?" Yusuke asked.

"If you are always stressed there is no way you will be able to think," Kurama replied.

"Hm…I guess you're right," Yusuke said with a sigh.


Kasumi was now starting to get worried, but Kurama said that he'd rescue her. Something in her gut kept warning her about the danger that she was in. Surely, something didn't seem right, Ryushi hadn't come since the morning and he should have come a while ago, but he didn't come.

Suddenly the door opened and a man wearing a black suit came in. He carried a tray and placed it on the table. Kasumi didn't look at him or the tray.

"Eat, there's food here for you," the man said.

Kasumi only closed her eyes and refused to listen.

"Maybe if you weren't so stubborn, Mr. Ryushi would be less vindictive towards you," he said. The man paused for a moment hoping for an answer, "Why don't you answer me?"

"What do you want me to say? That'd I'd give in to that pervert and kill Kurama?" Kasumi asked. "There are not many Kitsunes left at all; we are a small race now, if you search hard maybe you will find one or two others in Makai or Ningenkai."

The man walked over to her, she could now see his face. He had a kind expression, gentle features and a warm smile. He couldn't be evil or truly one of Ryushi's men. Ryushi usually had expressionless men who dared not to talk in such kind manner.

"Why are you working for Ryushi? You are not like the others," Kasumi said.

"He is my uncle, I have no choice, after my mother and father died he took me in," the man explained. "My mother said that he was a kind man, when he was younger."

"Hn, what twisted his logic?"

"Power, he learned of the powers of demons and grew hungry for their powers, especially those of your kind."

"You mean Kitsunes?"

"Correct."

Kasumi shifted uneasily and looked at the man with confusion. He was a really kind man, but something scared her. It was usual for a human to show such compassion for a Kitsune, when one is known to be of the breed.

"And why are you telling me this?" Kasumi asked.

"You seem sad," he said, "I have never liked to see someone so sad. And to go beyond that sadness to starve yourself is worse."

"Is it worse to see someone locked away?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied, "but I cannot go against my uncle's will. He has become to hate me and love power more."

"That's a human for you," she sneered.

Kasumi stood up and went to the small window. She looked at her fingerprints on the frosty window. She smiled slightly.

"I won't be going anywhere until he comes," Kasumi whispered.

"You are going to wait for that red-headed Kitsune?" the man asked. Then he noticed her reflection's smile and said, "You love him, don't you?"

Kasumi looked down, feeling a blush pinch her cheeks, "What does it matter? Ryushi has cameras all over the damn place, there's nowhere to hide…nowhere except here, this room."

The man walked over to her and cornered her to the wall. "Come, I will set you free. You do not belong in this cage," he said.

"You mustn't! If Ryushi finds you out, you are going to be killed!" she protested.

"That doesn't matter…you love this Kitsune, Kurama, and you should be with him," he replied.

"No, I cannot involve a human, not in this," Kasumi retorted. "Even if I want to be with Kurama, it isn't worth an innocent's life!"

The man was now growing angry. It was evident on his face and in his voice, every move he made was held by anger. Kasumi was well aware of his mood, but in her heart she knew that involving a human meant trouble for her and him as well. The man grabbed his by the wrist making her wince in pain.

"This is no game, you come now, or you will be dead for sure," he growled.

Kasumi nodded meekly; in her current state she was so weak…everything hurt her so much.

"So," she said timidly, "when do we leave?"


"I say we take 'em by force!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

"And what good would that do?" Yusuke asked.

"Gee…I dunno, it just sounds good," Kuwabara replied.

Kurama sat in thought, it seemed like he hadn't heard a word that Yusuke or Kuwabara had said all afternoon. It was now around four-ish, and they hadn't even come up with the slightest plan.

"Kuwabara's plan isn't as bad as you think Yusuke," Kurama said suddenly.

"Huh? Are you saying you heard everything? But, it seemed like you didn't hear anything we had said," Yusuke said with shock in his voice.

"That is not important now. I wouldn't exactly say, 'take by force' but maybe outwit them is more like it. We need to get into the headquarters and get Kasumi out of there without much of a fight," Kurama explained.

"Makes sense, I guess," Yusuke replied, "but how would we do that?"

"We will meet tonight at the bus station, I would say around six or seven tonight," Kurama said.

"Can't we have a more set time?" Kuwabara asked.

"Fine, 6:30, ok?" Yusuke replied with annoyance.

~*~*~
a/n: Hey! I still haven't gotten a name for my mysterious man who helps Kasumi, any suggestions would be great (please stay away from Keisuke or Kenji...I over use them...or any really old names like Kenshin or Aoshi)