Chapter 6: Kurama's Condition

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. Warning: This takes place AFTER the Dark Tournament. May contain spoilers! Italics mean emphasis OR mental thoughts. Okay... to answer some questions... somebody asked how Caibioshi stopped the bleeding. He didn't. Using white hot tools, like he did, I don't think that there would be much blood if the skin/blood vessels were burnt closed. Also it is possible to survive something like that if it is done properly; haven't you heard of an organ transplant? But... I don't really think Caibioshi did it so anyone could live... Yeah, yeah, that was graphic, but it just makes the ending better! So don't get mad at me! Now, on to the story!

Hiei watched Yukina slowly heal Kurama. He had gotten her to come here, when she heard about Kurama. Kuwabara used his spirit sword to break apart the restraints, and the wards were removed by him. After all, spirit energy technically isn't a solid. As Yukina neared his worst wounds, however, the blue healing light slowly began to fade, and Hiei know she was losing her energy fast, and growing tired. Hiei could tell she was not going to be able to complete the process. So, he hesitantly stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder, lending her some of his own. Yukina looked up briefly in obvious gratitude, before re-concentrating on Kurama.

Finally, the healing was complete, and Yukina sat back, exhausted. Hiei was also drained of his energy considerably, but he didn't let any fatigue show. There's Hiei for you.

"Come on, guys. We'd better get back to Genkai's temple." Yusuke said. Kuwabara complied and stepped forward. He gently picked up the unconscious Youko, and followed everyone back to the temple. Ever since the old psychic died, Yukina had lived there, and kept the place in tip-top shape.

Kuwabara slowly set Kurama down on a temporary laid-out futon. Just then, Koenma in his teenage form rushed in.

"I heard what happened," He panted. "Let me take a look at Kurama." Everyone moved out of his way.

Koenma put a hand on Kurama's chest, and his hand began to glow golden, but only briefly, before he pulled away. There was an obvious frown of deep concern on his face, easily seen, even past the pacifier.

"This is not good. Kurama's lapsed into a coma, but unless he wakes up in two hours," Koenma sighed heavily. "I'm going to have to assign Botan a new soul to bring to Reikai." There was a long silence, broken by Yusuke.

"Well, is he going to return to his human form, or is he going to stay a Youko?" Koenma paused.

"Yes, he'll turn back to Suuichi, if- uh, when he comes out of the coma." Koenma hastily tried to change his mistake, but the damage had already been done. Hiei clenched his fists together, yet he, and everyone else, sat down to wait out the time.

An hour snailed by painfully slow. Hiei had not taken his eyes away from Kurama yet. Finally, when it was up, Koenma stood and reached into a pocket.

"I was hoping we wouldn't have to resort to this, but obviously, I have no choice." As his hand emerged from the pocket, it pulled out a packet of silvery powder. "When one is about to die, they lapse into a deep sleep. In their mind, they go through a maze, in a cave. Their whole life influences the decisions they make, at forks, at turns, eventually leading them to either heaven or hell. However, if they refuse to go into the cave, and remain in the light, they will be pulled out of their deep sleep. This will connect Kurama's mind with someone else's. If you can get in there and pull him out of the coma, he will live. If not, then, well, you know the consequences. Any volunteers?" And to everyone's surprise, Hiei stepped forth.

"I'll go." He said. Koenma nodded, and sprinkled the powder over him and Kurama.

"You have one hour. After your time is up, your going to get forced back into your own body, weather you like it or not. Now it should take effect in five-four-three-two-o-"

And Hiei found himself in Kurama's mind. He was standing at the entrance to a large cave. He detected traces of Kurama's energy, and knew the fox had gone in. He quickly ran into the cave, following Kurama's trail of energy. The cave twisted and turned, making it all but impossible to navigate. As he went deeper into the cave, he had to rely more and more on the energy trail, but it was getting stronger, as if fresher. Finally, he was totally enveloped by darkness, and the only thing he could follow was Kurama's ki. Soon, though, the cave began to get lighter and lighter, and Hiei could soon see the cave's walls again. He then, saw a sight that made his heart stop, and his stomach turn to ice.

Youko was standing in front of an open, searing hot door, a hooded figure (which Hiei guessed was Koronue) standing next to him. Kurama's eyes glinted, and he walked to the door, but paused. In that second of pause, the hooded figure stuck out a thin hand and pushed him in. Hiei was there in an instant, and he grabbed Kurama's wrist, just in time, to prevent him from falling in. He then darted past the figure, who let out a raspy and dry yell of protest. He heard Kurama gasp in shock and surprise, but he ignored it, and kept running.

"H-Hiei?!" Kurama all but shouted in surprise. Hiei only nodded. He looked back, and to his dismay, the hooded figure was coming at them. He ran faster, almost dragging poor Kurama along the ground. "What are you doing here?!"

"Keeping you alive." They ran back, towards the entrance, and Hiei could just make out the light of the world outside, but the hooded figure was catching up. Finally, when they were close enough, Hiei jumped, pulling Kurama with him. He, and half of Kurama's body, landed in the light. Hiei was about to pull Kurama out more, when the hooded figure grabbed the fox's ankles, and pulled as hard as it could, which, for something so thin, was pretty hard.

Hiei was caught off-guard, and was almost pulled back into the shadows himself, had he not dug his feet into the ground at the last moment, and pulled back. As he pulled, the hood to the figure fell off, and Hiei almost let go of Kurama in surprise. It was Koronue, all right, but he was nothing but, nothing but a corpse. It was a gruesome sight to behold. The thing had half of its face decomposed and brunt away, and the other half was a sickly color. One half gone eye rolled in its socket.  Kurama cried out in shock, when he looked back, and as the thing opened its mouth and spoke for the first time.

"Come on, Kurama. Stop resisting. Come, burn in Hell with me. And your little friend can even come too. Come on, Kurama." Kurama lashed out with his right foot, and it hit Koronue, but the thing didn't even flinch. "Come on, Kurama."

Hiei stood a while in shock, before he braced himself and pulled harder. Kurama was mostly in the light again. Tug-of-war continued, with Kurama being mostly in the light, then dark, then light, then dark, by no large margin. He was mostly in the shadows again, when Hiei pulled, and Kurama was... perfectly half and half. Both sides tugged as hard as they could, and then, Hiei felt a jerk, as if something was grabbing him from behind.

"No. Please. Not now." He thought, holding onto Kurama even harder, but the jerk was too hard. He let go, and the last time he saw Kurama there, was Koronue dragging him into the cave, a triumphant look on his corroded face. Kurama one hand outstretched, one hand clawing the dirt, crying out the fire demon's name in desperate appeals.

"Hiei, Hiei! Help me! Please! Help-" But Hiei was already back in his body.

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

AN: EVIL CLIFFHANGER!!! MUHAHAHAHAAA!!! *Ducks a rubber ducky* So, did Hiei manage to get Kurama out of his coma? Will Kurama escape? *Misses street light, barely.* How in Spirit World Hell did you get that?! You'll have to read the next chapter to find out all the answers to all the questions, and I'm not putting up the next chapter till I get some reviews!! Bye! *Ducks a Jeep and piano* O.O; HOLY CHEESE ON RYE! HOW ARE YOU THROWING THIS?!?!