Disclaimer: I still don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, no matter how much I want to. I still don't. Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi, Studio Pierrot and all the other people who helped produce it. Onegai, don't sue me. I got money, but it won't do you any good if you sue me cause I got my disclaimer up.

Notes: I'm still really bad at making Hiei mean and since none of you people decided to give me reviews (even if it was only up for 2 days) Hiei's still very nice. Yaoi! Don't like, don't read. Arigato. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Shinzoku

The sun had just risen from its place in the east. Kurama felt a knock at his bedroom door.

"Shuuichi, there's someone here to see you." His mother called out.

"Does this demon have a human form? I never heard about Shinzoku having a human form. Why can mother see him? Oh well, I guess I just have to go find out."

He walked out of his bedroom and into the living room. A teenager was sitting there. He had dark brown hair with his bangs lying messily on top of his forehead. His eyes were a deep maroon color, and sparkled with hints of silver. He stood up when Kurama stepped into the room. He was a little bit taller than Kurama, about the height of Kuwabara.

"Well, he does look human."

"Shuuichi I have to go out to the store." His mother said. "If there is anything you need, Shinko, just ask Shuuichi." She smiled and walked out the door.

"Shinko. so this demon is Shinzoku with a shortened human name." Kurama sat down on the sofa a couple feet away from Shinzoku.

There was an uneasy silence when 'Shinko' spoke up.

"I won't stall. Give me the medallion."

"I told you I don't have it."

"Yes, I know you don't, you said someone named. Hiei had it." He said

"Forget about him. I stole the medallion from you, don't go looking for Hiei."

"I won't as long as you give me the medallion. For you see I know how you Youko's work. You steal and object keep it to yourself and blame someone else. Then when someone comes after you, you send that someone of on a wild goose chase, looking for someone that doesn't exist. But you, you seemed like an honest youko. I believe that you don't have the medallion, for I do not sense the power of it on you. However, I do not believe that Hiei has it."

"What?"

"I know who Hiei is. Do you think I'm stupid? He's one of the most famous fire demons in the Makai. I know about him. I know he possesses the Kokuryuuha, and that he is the Forbidden Child of the Koorime tribe. Did you think that I would fall for that trick? Hiei does not have the Medallion, but you probably told him where it is. I've seen you two together. I know that he will do anything for you."

"No! Leave Hiei out of this! He didn't do anything. I did. I stole the Medallion. Take your anger out on me, not on Hiei."

"There, that proves it."

"Proves what?"

"That you care for him Kurama. You're willing to be taken so that Hiei can live. How romantic. The infamous Youko Kurama, falling in love with the Forbidden Child. Not only that, the Forbidden Child loving him back no less. HA! You will be my prisoner, and I will use you to my advantage."

"What makes you think I will go that easily?" Kurama pulled out his rose whip, cracking it in a threatening way.

"Oh, so Youko Kurama wants to fight. Very well." Shinzoku watched Kurama get into his fighting position and saw him throw three seeds at him.

"Ah, the seed throwing technique. I hear that it's very painful, and that it constricts the opponent and drains their energy." He stretched his hand out and it glowed blue. Then the seeds glowed blue and all of a sudden turned around back to Kurama, constricting him and draining his energy instead of Shinzoku's.

"Let's see how it works on the owner of the seeds." Shinzoku laughed

"How-How is that possible? I guess it's a good thing I didn't throw one of my youkai devouring plants on him." Kurama commanded the plants to go back into their seed forms before they drained all of his energy. With much work, they obeyed and stopped constricting him.

"I guess it will take more that your seeds to contain you." He raised his hand again and blue rings encircled Kurama's body making it impossible for him to move. His arms were pinned to his sides and his legs were held tightly together.

"I can hardly move. This guy's really powerful. He's going to go after Hiei next. If Hiei gets hurt or killed because of what I did, I'll never forgive myself." Kurama put his youki in to a cutting plant with razor sharp sides. It could cut through any type of metal, steel, and even Hiei's dark rings. He just hoped it would work on Shinzoku's rings as well. The plant grew, and as commanded, cut through one of the glowing blue rings on Kurama's body. However, the ring glued itself back together and kept constricting Kurama.

"Trying to escape huh?" Shinzoku asked teasingly. "You'll never be able to get out because the rings just grow back." Shinzoku sat back on the couch and watched as Kurama squirmed around in the hold of the rings

"If only I could cut the rings long enough so that I could escape. My cutting plant can't do it. It's too small but maybe." He looked down at his rose whip, which was still in his hand, and thought that if he flicked it upwards; it would cut off the rings long enough for him to escape. He decided to try it. What did he have to lose? If he didn't try it, he would be taken away. If it didn't work he would also be taken away. If it happened to work, he could try to escape.

Kurama flicked his whip upwards and it cut through the rings, but also afflicting small cuts on himself. However, he was able to keep the rings open long enough to get out of the rings.

"Very impressive." Shinzoku said with a mocking tone. "I would expect no less of Youko Kurama. However, I feel bored. Let's go back to my palace."

"What makes you think I will go with you?"

"It was an order not a choice," he said firmly

"I wouldn't go with you if you paid me."

"Then I'll just have to take you by force." Shinzoku called two S-plus class demons to hold Kurama. He squirmed and struggled to get out of their grasp, but they were too strong for him.

Shinzoku stood up and waved his hand over Kurama, causing a bright light to surround his face. Then, the glow was gone and an unconscious Kurama lay on the floor.

"Take him to the prison." Shinzoku ordered, and the two S-plus class demons took Kurama and disappeared to the Makai. Shinzoku conjured up a note for Kurama's mother, making sure she wouldn't worry or go looking for him.

Mom,

I've gone to France. It's one of those school trips to learn about foreign countries. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. See you soon.

Shuuichi

Shinzoku, satisfied with the short but unspecific note, quickly disappeared to the Makai to deal with his new prisoner.

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Kurama squirmed in the tightness of the ropes around his hands and his feet. There were wards all over the place. He tried to summon his rose whip, but there were even wards on his hair. Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming toward him. He looked up. It was Shinzoku in his true demon form. He was colored green, with a vibrant yellow stripe going down his back. His eyes burned red, and his hair, messy and disheveled, looked like waves of blue water. He controlled the five main elements of the universe: water, fire, earth, air, and lightning. Kurama took one look into his burning eyes and suddenly fell to the ground.

"Well, good to see you're up and about." Shinzoku said with a snicker.

Kurama just looked at him with hatred and anger.

"I guess you're not very happy with me for keeping you in this place. Oh well, I need you for the next part of my plan. Would you like a complementary chocolate on your cell floor everyday?" Shinzoku teased. "The housekeeper should be in soon. HAHAHAHA" Shinzoku laughed at Kurama.

Kurama just looked back at him with his green eyes that had turned cold and distant. "Shinzoku," he called when Shinzoku started to leave. Shinzoku turned around. "If you go after Hiei, I swear I will kill you myself."

Shinzoku started to laugh. "Do you really think you can beat me? I admit your earth power and your control of plants is a lot more powerful than mine, but I can still beat you to a pulp. So don't disrespect me and I won't kill you." He turned around and walked away.

Kurama looked out his cell window. Stars were everywhere and dotted the sky with little bright lights. "Please, Hiei" he prayed. "Remember what I said. Don't come after me. I will be fine. I'm paying for the mistake I made a long time ago. Just leave it at that. Please, Hiei." The stars shined giving him a bit of hope that Hiei had heard him and that he would remember what he said. "Ai shitteru." Kurama whispered and fell into a dreamless sleep.

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Hiei was in his secret hiding place when he saw all the stars though a small hole in the ceiling. A couple seconds ago, he could've sworn he heard Kurama's voice, pleading him not to go to wherever he was. Hiei sent the thought away. However, it didn't stop bothering him. He knew Kurama was in trouble and he didn't want Kurama to...well...die. "But Kurama did tell you that he didn't want you involved." *I can't leave him though* "He's a strong Youko, he'll survive." *Hn, I guess that's true...* He was having an inner battle with himself. "There you go" *But, I still have this feeling that he's in trouble* "So you're still in love with him" *Where did that come from? * "Well, your feeling is like a connection only lovers have." *I'm not in Love* "Don't deny it Hiei, you love him." *No I don't* "You even told him you loved him." *No I didn't!* "Well you implied it" *I only did that to make sure he wouldn't leave me like in my dream* "So you don't want him to leave you...?" *Of course not* "So you admit it." * Admit what? * "You love him. That's why you don't want him to leave you. That's what you have been feeling ever since you met him." *What?! No! I... he... love... him... me... only... friends... right? * That thought hit Hiei hard. Kurama did show feelings for him that night. Come to think of it, he told him he loved him. And even though Hiei didn't say it directly, Kurama knew. 'I love you Hiei... but we just have to leave it at that. We can't be lovers. We'll just have feelings for each other without actually being together.' Kurama had said that, "we'll" just have feelings for "each other". He knew. *I guess I do love him* "Exactly." "Well Kurama, I guess. I do love you." He whispered. "Ai shitteru." he whispered out the hole in the ceiling, hoping that the stars would take the message back to Kurama. wherever he was.

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"Have you found him yet?"

"No sir. Hiei has not been found anywhere in this area." Shinzoku had his personal search party out looking for Hiei to tell him where the Medallion was.

"I guess we'll just have to go to more drastic measures. Bring in the prisoner!"

Two blue demons brought Kurama into the small room that Shinzoku was in. He was still chained up and warded all over the place. Shinzoku sent the demons away and started to confront the youko.

"Kurama, tell me where your friend is and I won't hurt you or him. Or even better, just tell me where the Medallion of the Goddess is."

Kurama remained silent. He just kept looking at Shinzoku with hatred in his eyes. They had lost the loving green warmth that they usually had.

"So you won't tell me huh? I guess you'll just need some persuading." Shinzoku got up and formed a whip in his hands. It was glowing bright yellow and was made out of electric light. He hit Kurama's back hard with his whip and Kurama groaned in pain. It sent a shock of energy through him making him fall down onto his knees.

"Will you tell me now?" he asked

Kurama looked up at him and said, "You can hit me all you like. You can even kill me, but I will never tell you where Hiei or the Medallion is."

"HA! Don't think so negatively Kurama. I won't kill you. Besides, you're the only thing that will bring Hiei to me."

Kurama started to laugh.

"What are you laughing at? There is nothing funny about pain."

"No, I was just laughing at how naive you are even though you're millions of years old."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Shinzoku asked, getting annoyed.

"You actually think that Hiei, will come to get me. He doesn't care for people remember. You've done the research. You know that he's a cold- blooded killer. What makes you think he will come to risk his life for me? I'm just a lowly youko. Hiei probably couldn't care less about what happened to me." Kurama said, half hoping he was wrong and half hoping he was right, for Hiei's sake.

Shinzoku laughed. "Kurama, don't play these tricks on me. I've seen how close you two are. You and Yukina are the only ones he lets his guards down to. He saves you time and time again, and you take care of him whenever he gets hurt. I know these things. You won't fool me. Hiei's coming, whether you want him to or not."

Kurama laughed again. "Still naïve as ever. Hiei won't come and if he does, he'll squash you like a bug."

Shinzoku was in a rage. How dare he talk to him like that? He whipped him again. This time, it took all of Kurama's strength to keep from screaming in agony. Again and again the whip came down until Kurama could hold his screams back no more. He cried out in pain and fell unconscious. Kurama's body lay limp on the ground and Shinzoku ordered his body to be taken away. He called the two demons back and they dragged him back to his cell.

"Kurama will never tell me where his little friend is. I guess I'll just have to take even more drastic measures. The Makai and Ningenkai are too big to be searched. I'll just make him come to me instead. Hiei, the Forbidden Child, you better look out. I'll bring you to your death."

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Heh heh, sorry, very bad ending I know. Can't help it, I don't know how else to end it... Gotta leave you people hanging so that you keep giving me reviews and I can have time to write my next chapter. My friend's like reading this before it's published out to the world, and she hates me right now. I'm sorry I was so mean to Kurama. I had no choice. It makes the story more convincing and longer. Kurama's my favorite character. I would never do something like that on purpose without feeling really, really, really, really bad. SORRY KURAMA!!!!!!

Kurama: I guess it's okay. I mean you do sound sorry so I forgive you.

Me: Really? Thank you soooooooooooooo much Kurama!!!!!!! Hug

Kurama: sweat drop uh. you can get off of me now.

Me: Oh, sorry. ^^()