I'm sorry again for the second chapter being so short, but I tried to put a bit more length into this one. It's the longest chapter I've done for this fic, so hopefully that'll make a few of you happy! And it's a quick update, something unheard of with lazy old me. I'm putting up the warning now, the Kurama torture is starting here! It's not that bad in this chapter (well maybe for Kurama...), but it will most likely get worse. *the authoress doesn't know why since she hates Kurama torture* Anyway you have been warned! Hope you all enjoy, and review!

*I do not own any part of Yu Yu Hakusho*

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Chapter 3: Deadly Games

The rain was subsiding, the clouds clearing. A thin ray of moonlight beat down on the water next to Kurama and his demon attacker, giving enough light to illuminate his face, dripping from the once harsh storm.

"Such fair skin, such a shame to stain it with blood. But you hands are covered in it are they not?" the demon said as he brought the knife down to Kurama's left cheek. He let it glide across effortlessly, but made no cut. Kurama could feel the cold metal sliding, toying with his fear.

"Well, Kurama? I know your not incapable of talking," the demon pressed on, with malice in his voice. Yet Kurama could tell he was enjoying this, it was all a game to him. And he had all the pieces on his side.

"If you mean that I have taken the lives of many demons, you are correct," he replied steadily. He would not let his fear show any farther.

"That's a shame, then I do have the right person," Kurama could feel the pressure of the knife on his skin increase and winced instinctively. He could smell his own blood, and could feel where he had been sliced. The crimson liquid rolled down his face slowly, landing next to his hair. "Oh look, it's the same shade of red as your hair."

"What are you?" Kurama asked.

"I am everything you are not. Full of hate, wishing for someone's destruction in the most painful manner, and in control of something much more deadly then a flower," the demon crushed the rose Kurama had somehow gotten to his had. Then he held a petal close to his hair and the drop of blood. "Even the rose, renowned for being the most beautiful flower ever created, holds some connection to pain, to blood. A crimson rose carries the same deadly shade of red as a human's blood," the demon made another slit in Shuuichi's skin, and he winced as this one slid down the length of his face. He felt the beads of blood trickle down his cheek, then land next to his hair and the single rose petal.

It was the same scene as before. The Fox's sleep nastily disturbed, and him reflecting on it. It felt...so real this time. Before it was like I was watching all of it unfold before my eyes. Now I saw what I would have witnessed if I had been there, in that body. I felt the cold steel of the blade, the warm trickle of my own blood, and the smell of the rose, Kurama thought uneasily. He brought his legs over the side of the bed and walked to the hall's bathroom. Still half asleep he turned on the faucet and let the water run on his hand until he found the temperature he desired. He let the clear warm water gather in his hands, then splashed his face with it to help him wake up. He didn't wish to return to his room, or to fall back asleep. But his mind froze and his heart raced as a familiar taste reached his mouth while the water ran down his face.

He was bleeding.

"No..." Kurama pleaded aloud. His attention caught and him fully awake he stared into the mirror. On his left side there were two cuts on his cheek. A small one, and a larger one that spanned from his eye, down to his mouth. The same ones from his dream. Kurama slowly brought his hand up to his face to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. The image in the mirror showed the smear marks from where he had wiped his fingers, and when he turned to his hand it was red. The wounds were real.

Kurama dashed back to his room, and stopped at the doorway when he saw the red stains on his pillow. "This can't be right..." he tried to reason with himself, "it's impossible," but with all I've been through how can I think anything is impossible... he thought desperately. He walked over to his bed and sat down slowly. He touched his pillow gently, and then brought his hand back to his face. The red liquid was still warm and wet, and it's smell was that of his blood.
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"Have you ever heard of a demon that could enter a person's mind Koenma?" Kurama asked patiently.

"Um, no," He answered. Kurama thanked him and started to walk away when he said, "why Kurama?"

"It's nothing, I was just curious," he replied. Guess Koenma's never heard of him either. Where could he be from? Once he had turned a few corners and thought he was out of ear shot for everyone he began talking to himself, "If I'm awake I can't figure out anything without letting everyone on and worrying over me, and when I'm asleep I'm pinned on the ground with no control. In a position to die at any moment..."

"Kurama..." Botan whispered in shock. Her grip on the corner wall fell with the tears down her cheeks.
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"You stereo is dead Kurama," Yusuke complained when Kurama walked into his room. He had forgotten the other boys would be over, and was glad he had cleaned up the blood on his bed.

"It just needs new batteries," he answered.

"Where'd those come from?" Kuwabara asked.

"The cuts? I guess I just got careless," Kurama lied.

"With what?" he continued.

"Something, I don't know. I noticed them this morning when I woke up," Kurama answered.

"But they look kinda deep, you woulda been bleeding," Kuwabara kept questioning. Kurama was becoming agitated.

"It's his business not yours," Hiei interrupted.

"I just wanted to know okay?! It's none of YOUR business what my business with his business is!" Kuwabara shouted.

"Do you even know what you just said?" Hiei said.

"Sure I did!" He yelled again.

"Yes, then tell us," it was silent while Kuwabara thought of a come back, "You have no idea do you?"

"Shut up shrimp!"

"I'll stop insulting you, when you stop giving me so much material to work with," Hiei replied mockingly. As Kurama walked back out he couldn't help but let out a small laugh as he heard more of Kuwabara's hallow threats down stairs.

You know they're going to be upset when you die. You know they're going to be aggravated when they find out you never told them anything.

Shut the hell up and leave me alone, Kurama crossly answered the voice. He knew it was in his head now, no point in yelling for the owner to come forth.

You should be kinder to your executioner. Maybe I won't make you death as painful as I had planned if you showed me some respect.

I'd rather be in an early grave then bow down to your wishes, Kurama thought bitterly.

"Here," Kurama said, and threw Yusuke what he needed to turn on the player, "you two are still arguing?"

"He started it!" Kuwabara defended quickly.

"I wouldn't have been able to start anything if he was smart enough to know what his own sentences meant," Hiei replied.

"Turn it DOWN Yusuke!" Kurama yelled when he turned on the cd player with AFI blasting. All of them had their hands over their heads.

"What the hell is that?!" Hiei shouted. Kurama ran over to the machine and paused it quickly then turned down the volume drastically.

"Your going to ruin the speakers," he scolded Yusuke.

Why do you care? The dead don't have possessions have worldly possessions such as that horrible device.

Then you won't have to worry about it once you've died, Kurama thought. He wasn't going to be tormented any longer without fighting back.

"Hey Kurama, you okay?" Yusuke asked.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Then bet," Yusuke said.

"On what?"

"Who's gonna win. I got Kuwabara to say he'd pay everyone who bet if he lost while he was flailing like an idiot," Yusuke laughed. Kurama looked over at the two, who had started to fight again. Kuwabara was hitting the air, while Hiei was darting around the room, constantly behind the taller boy.

"Hiei then," Kurama said.

"Kay lady and black boy," Yusuke began.

"I don't wear black Urameshi!" Kuwabara interrupted.

"Exactly, that's why your the lady. The first one to get hit loses, and that would be you Kuwabara. Start!" Yusuke shouted officially. Kuwabara swung at Hiei, while he jumped onto his back and kicked his head.

"Well that was quick," Yusuke complained.

You don't want them worrying about you do you? For your safety or theirs? It does not matter. If it's your wish I shall grant it to you.

Wha- Kurama started to think but felt too dizzy. He sat on his bed and brought his hand to his head. His mind was racing, his heart was pumping faster, and the images of his room faded out replaced with the scenes of the dream. He was still pinned.

"You hide things from them, things that cannot be hidden forever. You do so for them, because you are afraid that I will attack them next," the demon said irritably, "but I only desire revenge on you, and you alone. I have no desire for their blood. Just yours. And I want to see it flow, like a crimson river. Right. Now." the demon took his knife to slightly below Kurama's right shoulder, and thrust it down. Kurama screamed in pain, and felt his arm becoming covered in his warm blood. The demon lifted the knife higher in the wound and pulled it towards him. He stopped an inch short of Kurama's elbow, and watched the blood flow. Watched him struggle to grab the wound futilely. Watched Kurama cry out in pain for the help he could not receive. His blood ran down his arm and form a puddle around him, the wound not giving any sign of stopping.

"Do not worry Kurama. I will not kill you. Yet. This is the easy way out, something I will not let you have. This was just a game, to make you reveal your secret. So that I could observe your anger at me. This is all a game to me, Kurama, and it's one that I'm enjoying to no end," he said with a smirk on his face, "and now I'm going to release you to your friends. So they can revive you, and I can make you suffer again."

Kurama's unharmed arm shot over to his shoulder instinctively putting pressure on it. He let out another scream of pain when he hit the cut.

"Kurama hold it, let us help!" Yusuke yelled to him. Kurama opened his eyes just a little and saw his room, his friends. Kuwabara had just run back with a few white towels and bandages. Yusuke was already holding some cloth to his arm to stop the blood flow, while Hiei was trying to stitch it up. Kurama let out a breath and removed his hand so they could continue.

"You've got some explaining to do Kurama," Hiei said. Kurama nodded, closed his eyes, and put his head back against the wall while they mended his arm.