Chapter 3: Kurama's Consequences

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. However, I DO own Caibioshi. Warning: Spoiler! This takes place AFTER the Dark Tournament!!! Italics mean emphasis OR mental thoughts.

Kurama awoke, still in his Youko form, strapped to a table, facing a single bright light. His arms were spread out, the sides of the elbows facing upwards. His feet were slightly apart, and his mass of beautiful silver hair was spread all around. To his surprise, he was dressed, not in his tunic, but in white knee length shorts. His chest was bare. Kurama narrowed his golden eyes and tried to break out of the metal restraints that held him, but to no avail.

"Don't try. You're only wasting energy." Kurama's head snapped to the right, towards the sound of the voice, his ears stiff and erect. Caibioshi stepped out of the shadows, a grin on his face and a glint in his eyes that Kurama didn't like.

"Why am I here?" The fox snarled at the doctor.

"Now, now. Did you really think I would let my first Silver Youko escape that easily?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Kurama, I am a man of science. You know perfectly well that Silver Youkos are incredibly rare. Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to properly study one. Until now."

"S-tudy?" Kurama inquired, stretching out the word.

"Yes. Too bad you were so wrapped up in your poor mother's disease, you forgot to think straight. Tricking you was easier than I had ever imagined. Did you honestly believe I was going to let a prize Silver Youko get off the hook that easily? Absolutely not!"

Kurama listened to Caibioshi's words, cursing himself for being so stupid. If he was truly a human doctor, how would he know about Hiroseke stones, about the Koorime, about Youkos, about HIM? He had to be a demon. He had to be.

"You," Kurama's voice was dripping acid. "You're not a human, are you? You're a demon." Caibioshi laughed.

"It's about time you figured it out! I'd think you'd know once I said your name, but it's taken you over a week!" Kurama growled and looked away, clenching his fists. "But don't be angry, fox. It's not good to die holding a grudge."

Kurama's eyes darted towards Caibioshi, but still refused to face him. He struggled harder against the restraints, but soon felt his energy quickly lapsing away.

"Now, what did I tell you about that metal? Oh, did I remember to tell you that absolutely no solid object can break it?" Kurama continued struggling. "I said, stop struggling!"

Caibioshi reached into his coat and pulled out a dagger. He walked over to Kurama, and put the point of it to his neck. "Move and the dagger will cut you. And don't even try your little plants. I confiscated every single seed in your hair. Oh, and as for your spirit energy, it's locked deep in your heart. I made sure of that with all the spells and wards I put on you while you were sleeping."

It was just then that Kurama noticed the paper, stuck to his arms and legs. Wards. The different kanji on the strips of harmless looking paper activated different spells. One would shock; one would burn; and in Kurama's case, lock you out of your own spirit energy restoratives. He was helpless, and totally defenseless. He might as well have been unconscious.

"Locked spirit energy... like Gama's Makeup of the Seal?" Kurama asked, remembering the demon's blood effect.

"No. Gama only trapped spirit energy inside the body. I trapped it in your heart. There's no way to access it without removing the wards or killing yourself." Caibioshi smirked, seeing the helpless look on Kurama's face. He removed the dagger. "Now, I think I'll continue my study of Silver Youkos. Hmm... I think I'll begin with a study of the body."

But then, Caibioshi disappeared into the shadows. He came back a minute later, with a glowing iron, like one used to brand animals. It was in the shape of a three-leafed clover, with a small triangle etched inside each leaf.

"What are you planning to do with that?"

"This? Oh, this will just indicate that you're truly one of MY experiments. Somewhat like a branding of animals." Caibioshi laughed, and Kurama flattened his ears against his head, trying to get rid of the insane laughter bouncing around in it.

"Youko Kurama belongs to NOBODY!!!" Kurama yelled, struggling even harder, now that the dagger was gone. Caibioshi's smile disappeared, and a scowl replaced it.

"Struggle and it'll just be harder for you." Yet the doctor waited until Kurama had used up all his energy, before coming closer with the hot iron. Kurama watched, helpless, as the metal neared his left arm. A few centimeters above its target, Caibioshi stopped, and instead spoke to the fox.

"I have never heard a Silver Youko scream for mercy. Come one, Kurama. Scream for me, and this may be easier for you." Kurama narrowed his eyes.

"I may not have my weapons, I may not have my energy, but the one thing I do still have is my pride. So you can forget about that." Caibioshi smirked at his remark.

"Fine, then. Now you'll have the pleasure of knowing that it was because of yourself that this will hurt so much." He pressed the iron into Kurama's arm, watching Kurama's knuckles turn white from him clenching so hard. He could see the small trickles of blood coming from his hands; he knew the fox had cut his own hands by using his fingernails.

"Come on, Kurama. Scream. It might help you." Kurama didn't respond. His teeth were clenched as hard as his hands were. He refused to give up his pride. Finally, Caibioshi removed the iron, dissatisfied with the results. However, he soon had the smirk on his face once more.

"I know..." He purred, disappearing back into the shadows. This time, he reappeared with a bottle, and shook it. "That looks like a pretty bad burn, Kurama. Here, maybe a little water will help." And he dumped the contents of the bottle on Kurama's wound. It BURNED! It was exactly like adding gasoline to fire. Kurama couldn't stand it anymore. He threw his head back, letting an agonized yell tear from his throat. He struggled against the restraints, trying to get rid of the fiery feeling in his arm. Eventually, though, the liquid ran out, and Kurama's yell tapered into heavy pants.

"So, you finally gave in, didn't you?" Again, Kurama didn't respond. "Ahhh... the pain-filled yell of a wounded Youko... so satisfying." Caibioshi smiled.

"You WILL pay for this. I promise that. YOU WILL!" Kurama yelled though clenched teeth.

"You're in no position to promise anything, Kurama. In fact, it seems as if YOU'RE the one taking all the pain here." Caibioshi got a sick grin on his face. I know how to study you. Wait right here." And he was gone. Kurama immediately began to seek help through telepathy. The first one he found was Yusuke.

"YUSUKE!!!" Kurama yelled, mentally. Though he was five miles away, Yusuke jerked to attention in his house.

"Kurama?" He thought, out loud.

"Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked.

"Shut up." The command was automatic.

"Yes, it's me, Youko Kurama. I'm not the usual type to ask for help, but please, HELP ME!!! That doctor's doing more than an experiment to me!!!"

"What's he doing?" Yusuke asked mentally, hoping Kurama got the message.

"He's 'studying' me. He's forced me down, warded me, and I don't have any link to my spirit energy, much less any weapons. Oh shit, here he comes with-a scalpel, scissors, knife, and pins?" Kurama's eyes widened as he recognized the assembly of tools. He had used them once, as Suuichi, in middle school, when they were experimenting. His pupils diluted in fear and what little color that was left in his face quickly drained away, as he recalled the experiment. He only prayed that he assumed wrong. "Yusuke?" He asked, quietly, fear choking even his mental voice.

"Kurama, are you okay?!" Yusuke could feel massive amounts of panic, pain, but especially, fear, coming though their telepathic link.

"Yes, for now. But I remember seeing those tools together once before."

"When?"

"In middle school." Kurama watched Caibioshi heat up the tools, using a lighter. The next message he sent to Yusuke was so quiet, the Spirit Detective had to strain to hear it, though it was in his head. "Yusuke, we were dissecting a frog."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: MUHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!! CLIFFHANGER!!!!! So... can you guess what Caibioshi's going to do to Kurama? This WILL have a sweet ending. I promise! I've already written it! Poor Kurama... so helpless... it's so fun being evil!! ^_^ But really, though, I love Kurama. If you want the next chapter, review!!!