Chapter 7- Revisited by Death

Kiara was floating. She was lying on nothing, and did not feel supported. Yet, she was hearing voices; voices she recognized.

"It has to be Karasu," Kurama's voice was a welcome one.

"But, how can it be? As far as we know he was no where near her," Hiei's voice sounded different. Oh, well, Kiara was floating, and when she was floating, she was happy.

"He must have contacted her before using telepathy," Yusuke's voice was the same: whiny and crabby. "It's the only way possible,"

"I wouldn't put it past him to taunt the girl," Hiei definitely sounded different.

"It's exactly his style," Kurama sounded pissed. "I should know,"

"He also must have been taking her spirit energy," Kuwabara was nearby somewhere. "I can hardly feel it. Usually, it's very strong,"

"That would explain why she fainted," Yongei's voice was concerned. "If he took away a large amount of energy in a very short amount of time, Kiara probably couldn't handle it,"

"But, that would also mean that he would have been very close," Hiei said.

"He's following us," Amitomo said. Kiara could almost see his face in the mist, realization soaking into Amitomo's face.

Wait, she could see his face. Yusuke's face, as well as Kurama's and Hiei's, became clear. Kiara opened her eyes slowly. She was lying in a bed in a small room. Kurama sat next to her left side, Yusuke stood by the door which was directly across from the bed, Kuwabara stood opposite of Kurama, and Hiei sat in a wood chair in a corner. Yongei sat with Amitomo at the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, sunshine," Kurama smiled.

Kiara smiled back, sat up, and yawned cutely. "Where am I?"

"My house," Hiei answered.

"That explains the sparseness."

"Hey," Hiei was offended. ', if you don't like it . . ."

"She does," Kurama interjected.

"Karasu, he's following us?" Kiara laid back, overwhelmed.

"It seems so. Yongei was able to detect his presence soon after you went unconscious, but he was unable to do more than that," Amitomo smiled at the man.

"I can't believe it," Kiara closed her eyes, and her forehead creased.

"What's wrong?" Kurama asked, his eyes full of worry.

"My head, it hurts," Kiara rubbed her temples.

"It's okay, you'll be fine," Kurama's fingers joined Kiara's in the massage of her head.

"We'll leave you two alone," Yusuke said, winking suggestively. All of the guys filed out of the room one by one.

"Kurama," Kiara hugged her kitsune tight, and buried her face in his jacket. "What's happening to me?"

Kurama encircled his arms around her. "I don't know, Kiara, I just don't know,"

"I want to kill him. I want to slaughter him like he did Amitare. But, a part of me wants to find out what he wants me for,"

"It's curiosity. It's natural," Kurama looked deep into Kiara's bright green eyes. He was about to lean in for a kiss, when the door burst open.

"You two," Hiei looked a bit worried; very unusual for him. "Get out here now. An old friend is here,"

* * *

Karasu stood about fifty meters away from the door, just out of the line of pine trees that surrounded the house. The boys and Kiara stepped out of the house.  They stood in a straight line facing the tall, dark demon.

"I'm glad you've decided to meet your deaths peacefully," Karasu said, flicking a tress of black hair behind his shoulder. "Then again, killing is better when there is a little resistance."

Amitomo ignited his sai, "We're not going down without a fight,"

Karasu's eyes lit with silent laughter. "Neither am I. DEATH BRINGER!" Karasu's gloved hands glowed with dark black flames. "Whose first?"

"I will," Yongei took out his ball and chain earrings, which instantly grew to life size.

"Yongei," Amitomo said his name, unsure.

"I'll be fine," Yongei strode out of the line. He took a defensive stance, and started to swing his ball and chains.

"Really, now," Karasu scoffed. "You think those puny things can be used to fight me? You're too cute,"

"I have been told I'm good looking," Yongei grinned.

"A brave face in death. A noble end indeed. Too bad," Karasu threw a handful of flames straight at Yongei.

"YONGEI! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Kiara shrieked.

"YONGEI!" Amitomo struggled to be free from the grip Kuwabara held him back with. "YONGEI! NO, PLEASE"

Yongei saw the dark fire flying towards him. He stood up, and his cheery face fell. It was one of the most sickening things Kiara had ever seen: the face of a cheery man who knew he was going to die.  Yongei turned his head to Amitomo. "Goodbye, Amitomo. I love you," he said as the ball of dark fire hit his chest.

But, Yongei did not die. In fact, the fire just bounced off of him, and died in mid air.

Yongei looked around. "I'M ALIVE!" He smiled again, and pointed at Karasu. "HA HA!"

Karasu got angry. "I do not like being mocked," he said through clenched teeth, then threw the other hand of fire at Kurama.

"NO!" Kiara screamed as the fire hit Kurama in the abdomen. Again, the fire just died.

"What is going on?" Kuwabara said. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"What are you talking about?" Hiei's head whipped around, and saw a dark ball of flame headed his way. Before he could do anything, the ball of flames sunk into his chest.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hiei sunk to the ground, and clutched his chest. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! No, I can't die. I have to live, I have to,"

Hiei muttered more, including a name no one was able to distinguish.

"HIEI!" Kurama was at his friend's side, followed by Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"Come on, Hiei" Yusuke said. "You can pull out of this,"

Yongei and Amitomo crouched down by the jerking form of Hiei. "He's dying. The same way my brother did," Amitomo's face was stark white.

"No, I'm not," Hiei stood up, and the ball of fire emerged from his chest, and disappeared.

"I don't understand," Kurama stood up.

"Neither do I," Hiei felt where the fire had been.

"Wait," Yusuke looked around. "Where's Kiara?"

"LET ME GO!" The words punctured the air. The boys turned around, and saw something horrifying: Kiara was caught in the arms of Karasu. "I SAID, LET ME GO!"

"KIARA! LET HER GO YOU MONSTER!" Kurama started towards Karasu, but was caught and held back by Yongei.

"You have a lovely woman, Kurama," Karasu ran his hands along Kiara's flat stomach. "So perfect, I absolutely love her body. Don't you?"

"Let her go," Kurama's eyes became green granite. "Let her go right now,"

"I think not. I think I'll keep her for a while," Karasu bent his head down towards Kiara's. "Such pretty lips,"

"You touch her," Kurama broke free from Yongei's grip, but stood still. "And I'll make sure you never break free from the land of the dead again,"

"That's where you're wrong, kitsune. I was let go," Karasu leaned into Kiara. "You need to choose men more carefully, love.  Some are so thick," The space between the two was closed as Karasu kissed Kiara.

"MONSTER!" Kurama lost it, and started towards Karasu.

"Got to go, be back later," Karasu told Kiara as he ran into the woods.

"Kurama!" Kiara sobbed as Kurama took her in his arms. "It was awful! I couldn't move! He had some spell, an attack of some sort, I couldn't move!"

"It's okay," Kurama said, even though he knew it wasn't. "It's over."

"His lips, they felt like death. Cold, sorrowful death," Kiara sobbed more. Kurama picked her up, and took her back to her room in Hiei's house.

* * *

"So, Karasu has really returned?" Koenma sank back into his chair.

Kurama sat upright and rigid in his chair, "Yes, we've seen him, twice," He gave Kiara, who sat beside him on her customary stool, a worried look.

Kuwabara broke in, "He's ten times more powerful, Koenma sir. I have felt his spirit energy,"

"He also has a new attack, Death Bringer," Yusuke sat on the windowsill. "We don't know exactly how to stop it, only Warrior Yongei, Kurama, and Hiei were able to survive it, when it burns your soul alive. We don't know what stops it, or how he can conjure such a thing,"

Kiara remembered Karasu's words, "He said it was a gift from the Lord of the Dead.  Apparently, the Lord has strengthened his powers. But why?"

"HADES?" Koenma sprung out of his chair. "Hades is behind this? But, I thought you said Karasu wanted to steal the Flame,"

Yongei floated in mid –air. "He does, but what does that have to do with the Lord of the Dead? I though he was loyal to you," Yongei floated past Koenma, and poked him in the head.

"I thought you were a fire demon!" Koenma rubbed his head, irked.

"I am, but my full demon form's a dragon. Dragons can fly," Yongei did a loop-the-loop around a bookcase.

"Karasu said he wanted me for something," Kiara twisted a lock of hair.

"But, he's trying to get the Flame, not you," Yusuke said.

Yongei fell from the air to the ground with a loud thud. Amitomo entered the office carrying a full tea service, which was promptly dropped when he saw what had happened to Yongei. "Are you alright?" He rushed over to Yongei, who had stood up, but was wobbling unsteadily.

"I figured it out! Karasu wants Kiara because she's his key to getting the Flame!" Yongei stumbled to the right.

"But, you said the only way a person could get the Flame was if they gave up something they truly loved," Kuwabara said.

"Exactly," Yongei jerked his head in Kuwabara's direction.

Kurama's face paled. "He's in love with Kiara,"

Yusuke sat up, "Doesn't he have a theory that everything he loves must die?"

"It fits perfectly with his plan," Hiei looked at Kiara, who stared fearfully at Kurama. "If Karasu wishes to get the Flame, Kiara must die," 

"Oh my god," Kiara slid off of her stool, and sat on the ground.

Kurama sat down next to her, and put his arms around her. "We won't let him have you," he told her confidently. "We'll protect you, won't we guys?" Kurama looked at his friends for support.

"Sure," Yusuke nodded. So did Kuwabara.

"I might as well," Hiei said.

"We won't let anything happen to you," Yongei was fully recovered from his fall from the ceiling. "And to make sure nothing does," Yongei smiled at Amitomo evilly, then rushed over to Kiara, picked her up off of the floor, and put her on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Yongei!" Kiara shrieked. "Yongei, what do you think you are doing?"

"Putting you somewhere safe. Come on!" He gestured with his hand to the others, and walked out of the room, and down the hall.

"Put her down!" Kurama protested.

"You care for Kiara's safety, don't you?" Hiei strode next to the red-haired demon.

"Yes,"

"Then I suggest letting Warrior Yongei do what he thinks is right,"

Yongei strode down the hall to Kiara's room. There, he entered the room, threw Kiara down on the bed, and walked swiftly out of the room.

"Yongei, you are not leaving me in here!" Kiara's cries were heard on the other side of the door as Yongei turned the key, took it out of the lock, and handed it to Kurama. "Let me out right now!"

"This door doesn't open," Kurama said. "No one comes out, and no one goes in. Right?" He gave everyone glares.

"Right," They all nodded.

"Here," Kurama dug the white wood flute out of his jacket, and threw it through the crack at the bottom of the door. "This always used to cheer you up,"

"Hey, I've been looking for this!" Kiara sounded peeved, and yet relieved at the same time. "Wait . . . open this door right now! I can see what you're doing! Let me out!"

"I never knew she could see through walls," Yongei joked. Amitomo smiled.

"Have fun!" Yusuke said sarcastically as the group of men started down the hallway.

AUTHOR'S NOTE- Hello all! How are you? I'm fine. I'm also hyper, having consumed ten KitKat bars last night and the sugar hasn't worn off yet.

DAY: *round at Suri-chan's for a laugh and a swim later*  Only ten?  You saw the size of that Mountain Dew I'm drinking, haven't you?  That caffeine will stay in my system for quite some time.  Heh heh.`

Suri: It's huge. How can you drink all that? It's like, more than a liter! You're going to be buzzing for days!

DAY:  Yes, well…  I'm more interesting when I'm buzzing, ne?  Newayz, onto more interesting business… 

Suri: *grumbling* You are certainly are. What would Kurama say?

DAY:  *thinks for a moment*  Oh, he'd probably just resign himself to it.  I've gotten him rather well trained, now.  He doesn't complain when I glomp him any more!  ^_^

Suri: Good lord! I've never done that to Hiei!

DAY:  You don't believe me?  Watch!  *whistles* Kurama!

Kurama: *appears out of nowhere due to proper use of Author Magic*  You do realize that I am not an animal to be whistled for?

DAY:  *shrugs* As long as you get here.  *glomps*

Kurama:  *rolls eyes*  *mutters under breath*  Here we go again…

Suri: You poor, poor man.

Anyway, the third chapter of DAY's "Anything Goes" will be coming out shortly. *glares at DAY* Won't it?

DAY:  *still attached to Kurama*  Of course!  I just have a couple more things I want to write between…  Oh never mind… Just read it, and you'll see!  ^_^

She's going to make me wait, just like everyone else. Oh, well. More time for KitKats then. Wonderful, cruchy goodness.

Yum Yum!

Anyway, good bye. Day, what's the matter?

DAY: No more Mountain Dew! My sugary caffeinie goodness is gone!

Suri: Poor, sweet child.