IMPORTANT CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last chapter was not the end! XD

Disclaimer: I don't own it. So sad. But I do own this fanfic, and any ideas I come up with such as the concept of No Ones. That's it really… Sorry to disappoint you….

Warning: Contains implied Yaoi. Also contains Shonen Ai. I will not tell you the difference between the two, so…. Go look it up yourself. :P Waff, angst, and slight gore. Read at your own discretion. ^^ Enjoy!

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When Dealing With Spirits

By Pixie Ayanami

Chapter 13: Reminiscing

"Please don't become upset… Please…." the Yukina begged. A long growl emitted from the pulsating wall in front of her.

"Why shouldn't I?" It asked, "After all attempts those boys still haven't been killed."

"But by becoming angry, you are only going to-"

"Silence! To top everything off, you have betrayed me, you wench!"

"I did it because you are wrong! You are not to surpass Lord Enma's power, it's impossible!" she exclaimed in rage, "And you haven't helped me with your part of the deal! You haven't helped me find any of my species-"

"The truth is that there are no more of your species!"

Yukina froze. This was impossible. There had to be some on else left…. "You're lying!" she exclaimed, grabbing her chest in attempt to stop the heart beat. The jewel encrusted wall laughed.

"I am not lying. It's the truth, you are the only one left of your wretched species."

Images filled her mind of her clan, her friends, her mother. They were all happy good times. "But they are there…." she said, "I can feel them…" And then a gruesome one appeared, one that felt like scratching her eyes out to stop seeing the ordeal. Her clan. Dead. The bodies were strewn everywhere, with lances and arrows stuck through, blood pouring from the wounds.

"Stop it!" she exclaimed, clutching her face, "It's not true! Stop showing me these pictures!" The wall laughed harder. She felt like throwing up. How could this be? Damn that wall…

"I have supreme power. I can show you anything, but I am showing you the truth," It sneered. More gruesome images. More pain. It wouldn't stop. Yukina screeched in anguish.

"IT'S NOT TRUE! IT CAN'T BE! STOP IT! STOP IT!!!!!!" she exploded, running out of the big chamber, hearing evil laughter following her.

"You can't run from the truth, No One!" It stated, "I have no more use for you, be gone!"

A blast of blue light shot at the Yukina. She turned and screamed as the energy contacted.

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

Hiei woke with a start at feeling the large flare of ki. Kurama did the same, and clutched onto Hiei's body hard, feeling pain and anguish from it, as well. Hiei stroked Kurama's hair, knowing that they had to do something soon and quick.

"We have to end this," Hiei said. Kurama quickly agreed.

"But we can't until the Yukina imposter tells us how to get to the energy source," Kurama countered, as he buried his head into Hiei's chest. He continued to caress Kurama's garnet hair, waiting for more ki. None came.

"Something's definitely wrong," Hiei muttered.

And there was. A scream was heard from out side. Looking out, Hiei and Kurama  saw a large crowd of people in the middle of the court yard, looking at something. Hiei and Kurama quickly got dressed, and raced outside to see what was going on.

"Can you believe this?" one person asked.

"I know! So many strange things have been happening lately."

"Who is that girl?"

"Why is she hurt?"

The questions didn't end as Kurama pushed his way through the crowd to see. What he saw was a Yukina, who was bleeding crimson from many burns and wounds. Her clothes were burnt and charred, and she could barely stand. When she looked up to see Kurama, she lunged forwards for the bottom of his shirt.

"You…. You have to do something…. Quickly!" she managed to say before collapsing in Kurama's arms. Hiei told everyone to go away, which they quickly did, as Kurama picked up Yukina and started bringing her in the house.

Kurama tended to her wounds, and dressed her in something clean. Kurama went downstairs to fix everybody breakfast, and Hiei sat by her bed watching over her. A while later, she woke up quickly, right before Kurama came up with breakfast. Grabbing her head, she felt dizzy as the blood rushed for her head. Hiei jumped up right away to help her, she blushed and said that she was alright. But the pain in her chest said differently.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Hiei asked again to make sure. She nodded.

"Yes I am," she confirmed, rubbing her chest, "But I have to tell you.."

Kurama came in with a breakfast of eggs at that moment. "What do you have to tell us, Yukina?" Kurama asked.

"It's getting restless!" she cried, "You have to stop it!"

"Tell us what happened first," Kurama said. Hiei snorted and muttered something about needing help now. Yukina looked pained as she slowly recalled the events to them. Kurama nodded his head, understandingly.

"I see," he said when she concluded, "He has the ability to do that?"

"That and so much more awful things," she said, sniffing.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of it. I'm sure that bastard is lying," Hiei said, trying to be comforting but failing sue to his tone. But still, she gave a small smile.

"Thanks," she said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

"That's alright. Can you please tell us how to get to it?" Kurama asked. Yukina stood up.

"Meet me tomorrow at the rose garden," she said, "I'll show you how there. Take a day to rest with each other. As for right now, I have to leave."

"But-!" Kurama tried to protest. She looked back at him and smiled.

"Because I'm in the form of a Koorime, I heal quickly," she said, turning her back, and started walking out the door. And then she stopped. Without turning, she said, "He's a ghost. He's not dead."

Kurama did a double take at the comment. What did she mean? 'He's a ghost. He's not dead.' Oh no… Does this mean that-

"He's not… he's not dead?" Hiei asked for him. They both knew what this meant. Karasu was still alive. Kurama mentally slapped himself.

"Yes. That sounds right. Ghosts can't die if they're already dead…."

"Damn it!" Hiei sounded from in back of him, "All that was for nothing?!"

"No. I'm sure he learned his lesson or at least got the message by now."

"Let's hope," Hiei said, "Or I'll just keep kicking his ass again and again."

Kurama laughed at this comment, but the truth was that he was actually very uneasy. Hiei sensed it. Walking over to him, he wrapped his arms around the fox demons waist and pulled him into a protective hug.

"Nothing will happen to you, I promise," he said in a warm tone rather his cold one. Kurama smiled and hugged back. For the whole day, they just enjoyed each other's company, resting for the battle that they knew they had the next day.

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

Yukina went back to her fountain in the maze. She rested her head in her hands as she sat by the fountain's edge, thinking about what has happened. She ruined her life completely. She obtained help from someone who would eventually betray her. Thousands of times she thought about killing herself: until two wonderful boys came.

They appeared promising enough. Maybe they could help her. But then she started to care for one. He was the more serious of the two. Cold hearted, even mean, but there was something about him. In all honesty he was sweet on the inside. He was good and kind hearted. Lovely, kind. But he hid it all. Away from everyone. Except for the other boy. And it all hit her. The two loved each other.

Which was alright with her. She supported him like a sister would to a brother. Not wanting to put him in danger, she denied the fact of anything being hid here. Until It got angry. It was quite obvious. The young girl going psycho and trying to kill her love, her obviously burned and hurt. That thing would just get stronger. Those two boys were the only ones that could stop It. So what else is she to do? She is powerless. She only has one power that causes other people pain. What's the point?

"I'm sorry, Hiei," the Yukina said to herself. Crystallized tears cascaded down her faces features once again. "I feel so powerless. What can I do?" Her mind roared one answer.

'Nothing…'

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Kurama and Hiei woke up in each other's arms the next morning again. Hiei tried to wake up Kurama, but Kurama only snuggled closer and buried his face in Hiei's neck, begging for more rest. Staying up all night can make one tired, which was Kurama in this case. But Hiei knew that they couldn't sleep in.

Poking Kurama's stomach, Hiei heard him giggle as  he told Kurama to wake up. Kurama shook his head and turned his back to Hiei. Hiei sighed. Wrapping his arms around Kurama's waist, he began to prod Kurama's stomach quickly, making Kurama laugh as he was tickled.

Kurama threw his head back and Hiei caught it, smiling down at Kurama's shocked expression with warm eyes. "Morning, love."

Kurama blushed a deep crimson as Hiei started rubbing his hands up and down Kurama's stomach. A small smile tugged at his lips as he tried to stifle the giggles and soft moans. Hiei chuckled as he let go of the fox, who reached for a nearby shirt. The two got up, dressed, and head for downstairs. Neither one wanted anything to eat, so they decided to skip breakfast.

Blinking many times to adjust to the outside light, Kurama stopped in front of the door way. "I have a couple things to take care of. Please go on ahead."

Hiei was reluctant at first, but agreed in realization. He flickered off, Kurama waiting until he felt that Hiei's ki was really gone. First, he made a stop for the hospital wing, to check on the girls. The two were sleeping, but their wounds were healing. Ami was wrapped up in bandages to heal her burns from the from the explosion, and it seemed that Kristina was laying down in bed, still on life support. Both of them were unconscious and resting peacefully in their beds.

'Good,' he thought. But why bother? They are fake, too. As far as Kurama knew, everyone but Hiei, the Yukina, the Karasu ghost, and the large amount of energy were the only things real in this place. It must be his compassionate side taking over. Now there was one thing left to do…

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Hiei waited patiently in the garden, waiting for Yukina and Kurama to show up. He gripped his sword anxiously. Why was he nervous? He always felt this way before Kurama had to fight. He particularly didn't like Kurama fighting. Being a  frail human he was, it worried him that he'd die before the fire koorime did. Then again, he should give the fox more credit than he does. After all, Kurama did just prove that he could defend himself.

A noise from in back of Hiei shook him from his thoughts. Turning, he discovered it was the Yukina copier. Her eyes were puffy, as if she just stopped crying. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Good morning. Where is Kurama?" she asked.

"He had some business to take care of," Hiei replied. She nodded. A silence followed and made its self known as uncomfortable. She finally looked up in tears.

"Why don't you tell her?" she asked suddenly. Hiei stared at her, confused and shocked.

"Wha-?"

"Do you know how much Yukina is hurting?" she asked, clutching her chest and letting the tears fall. Hiei flinched at the sight.

"Don't cry," he said, in a defeated tone.

"Yukina cries all the time. She cries over the fact that she might find her brother, don't you notice?"

Hiei froze. The Yukina just tapped into a serious topic that made Hiei feel uncomfortable. "I can't tell her. It'd just upset her more. And she so pure that…"

"She'll love you anyway!" the Yukina countered, wiping away some tears, "I would know."

"How?"

"When in her body, I can tap into her thoughts," the Yukina explained, "She is missing a part of her, her brother!"

Hiei stood silent for a while. She continued to stare at him, hopeful. In less than a moment, he was beside her, hugging her.

"Please don't cry."

"At least tell me you'll try."

Reluctantly, Hiei answered, "Alright. I'll try."

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

Kurama sighed as he stepped into the elevator. Pressing the button, he leaned his back against the wall deeply taking in air. The feeling of air changed slightly, as a familiar ki appeared. Kurama looked up unfazed. He planed this. Karasu leaned on the wall across from him, head bent down. This would be a long elevator ride.

"We are together again, my dear Kurama," Karasu stated, looking up and smiling. Kurama shifted his gaze to the floor.
           

"I know you are a ghost. I forgot that you couldn't die, when you are already dead. Did it hurt?" Kurama said, no emotion in his voice as he continued to gaze at the floor.

"No, it didn't, in fact I was healed in a couple hours," Karasu stated. He started moving closer to Kurama, but Kurama came back with a  cold hearted glare that made him decide differently.

"Do you wish to fight me again?" Kurama asked, a void still in his voice.

"If it means killing you, then I would," Karasu stated. Kurama continued to glare at him. Silence emerged.

"Why do you do it?" Kurama asked.

"Because they will only hurt you," he hesitantly answered.

"You kill the ones you love. Then you won't be able to spend anymore time with them." Karasu didn't answer. Something struck within him, a pain of guilt.

"Ai, please don't die!"

"Do you have some kind of sick pleasure in inflicting pain?"

"…I used to…."

"Karasu… please…."

"So you enjoy it?"

"…I used to…."

"Don't go! I'll do anything for you!"

"Is it fun?"

"…I used to think so…."

"Don't forget… I…"

Grabbing his head, Karasu shouted, "SHUT UP!!!! IT'S NOT TRUE!!"

"Don't leave me, Ai!"

"Then why do you do it?!" Kurama retorted. Karasu sunk to his knees.

"…I love you…."

"Ai…." Karasu squealed, "Please Ai…"

Kurama looked down on him in pitied disgust. "I shouldn't pity you," he said, "But I do. You are a lost soul who forgot the meaning of love."

"Ai!" His silky black hair draped over his face reveling nothing. Sounds of someone crying could be heard though.

Kurama wondered who Ai was. The elevator room darkened, and suddenly Kurama was not standing there anymore. He was in a snowy forest clearing, along with three other demons. One was mauled, his parts laying everywhere in the scene, staining the snow beneath red. Another was kneeling on the ground near the third, staring at his hands in shock seeing that they were covered in crimson. And the last was a young female demon, that appeared to be so delicate and pure. Her smile was set contently as well as her shut eyes, as she laid there with an arrow through her heart.

"Ai…," the boy spoke, wisps of black hair blowing over his face, "How could you say that when you aren't around to show me you mean it?"

The snow kicked up and started covering the young girl's body. The boy pulled the arrow out of her chest. Picking her up, he turned and started walking out of the snowy clearing.

The scene changed to a later date of the same boy sitting in a bar. His hair was just past his shoulders, he was wearing darker colored clothing before, and also looked paler. A female demon waltzed up to him, seductively swaying her hips back and forth in a hypnotic fashion.

"Hey, there. Haven't seen you around here before," she said, fluttering her heavily painted eyes. The boy turned away. The woman laid herself on him, biting his lips and whispering, "Come on, have some fun, ne?" The boy smiled.

"Fine," he said, giving into a deep and messy kiss. The scene later changed to a hotel room above the bar, the boy clutching the girl at her throat. His eyes were wide with lust and excitement. She pounded on his arms to stop, but he proceeded. Grabbing a knife from the dresser, he raised it high above his head. She looked up and too much to her horror, the knife collided with her face.

Kurama winced as more scenes of death ran past his eyes. More pain, more blood, more death. Did Karasu really go through this much pain? As Youko Kurama, he has gone through far more in his life. But he did not go deranged from it.

He reached out, trying to grab one of the images that flew past him, to stop it all. Instead, he found himself back in  the elevator room with Karasu, hugging him protectively, Karasu's head on his shoulder.

"What is love?" Karasu asked. Kurama started blankly at the wall.

"That is something I cannot give an answer for," Kurama began, "It's a feeling that resides deep within you that only you can explain for yourself."

"But what if you don't know that feeling?" asked Karasu softly, "What if you never felt it?"

"I assure you, you have felt it," Kurama answered.

"But how do you know?"

"I could tell you loved her, and no one can replace her."

Karasu froze. Could he really love another? Was he capable of it?

"…I love you…." They were her words to him. Did he love her back?

Yes.

And he missed her so much. Kurama let go and the two of them got up.

"Thank you. I think it's time I reunite with Ai," Karasu said warmly, a smile tugging at his lips. A true smile. Kurama stared at him and noticed that Karasu was starting to disappear.

"Karasu?"

"Thanks again, fox. I truly love you, too," Karasu said as he bent down to Kurama's face. "Good bye…" Before he could meet Kurama's lips he disappeared in a mist of white sparkles.

The doors of the elevator opened. Stepping out, Kurama looked back and said, "Good bye, Karasu. See you again someday."

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Hiei looked over at the gates of the garden sensing Kurama's ki. He smiled at the sight of his lover. "Everyone ready?" the Yukina asked. Kurama shook his head as he bent down and picked a couple roses. Taking the seeds out of one and placing them in his hair, he put the other behind his right ear.

"Alright, let's go."

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There! Don't hurt me! I know it took me a long time to put a new chapter up. Gee, a lot of people thought that the last chappy was the end! I tell you something about what I think makes a good story: When everyone's problems are fixed. Kind of like Disney movies…. Oh well! ^^ In this chappy, you get to see the Yukina's views on everything and Karasu's views. I am happy for Karasu, he rested in peace. ^^ yay! This was a long chapter….. Hope you like! This story will seriously be going on for only 2 chapters longer. I'll be so sad finishing it! Yet happy, because then I can start my lovely Soujiro/Misao fic for Rurouni Kenshin! ^^ Yay!

To Everyone: Yay! I'm glad everyone loved the last chapter as much as I did! ^^ You guys encourage me so much with your reviews! Thanks!

Spark-gurl: Ara! ^^ I'm flattered! Thanks for thinking I deserve like 110 reviews for this! ^^ Have a big Hiei doll! *hands over a big Hiei doll*

Storm31: Er, I didn't say "The End." You'll see the words "The End" when it's the end. ^^;;;; You still have 2 more chappies for it! I hope you read them!

Thanks for the reviews! My uber goal is to get 50 reviews, and I'm only 1 away from that. Who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky and magically get 100 reviews? Lol Just kidding.

Please review! Tell me what you think. They encourage me to write more! ^^ Thanks!