Don't own yuyu.

So it's appreciated if you don't sue.

Arigato, minna-san! Gomen nasai Youko Starr, I'd really thought you'd stopped reading......you'd stopped reviewing, anyway.........WARNING-there will be a complete moment of randomness up ahead.........

Pie jesu domine......dona e-is requiem.................WHACK

Pie jesu domine.........WHACK

Dona eis requiem.................WHACK

^-^;;;;

Ok, just so you don't think I'm COMPLETELY insane, that was from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.............^-^;;;;

Moving on........ on with the fic!! ^-^;;;;

(gomen, minna-san.........I needed a moment of complete randomness......^-^;;; you just happened to be the lucky people that experienced it......heehee......^- ^;;;;;;;;)

The Roots of a Rose by Kita –– Part Eight: Burning Questions

He had been staring up at the ceiling . . . then he closed his eyes and sighed . . . there was nothing to do . . . but sleep . . .

Far away, another was just staring at the stars . . . . wondering . . . thinking of the strange event that had occurred almost a week ago . . .

/ Hiei . . . / The redhead thought wistfully, before his consciousness drifted away . . .

/ Kurama . . . / The short youkai absently wondered . . . before sleep took him, as well . . .

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Yusuke and Kuwabara attacked the demon, but the slimy creature dodged it, extending razor-sharp and lightning-fast tentacles at the leader of the spirit detectives . . .

"Yusuke!" Kurama cried, bringing his whip down and cutting off most of the ones coming from the front . . . Hiei whipped around behind the black-haired leader, kneeled down, and brought out a leg, tripping him . . . which caused the tentacles to shoot harmlessly above the both of them . . . the squishy limbs were soon cut up by Kurama's trademark rosewhip . . . Kuwabara ran in from the left, cutting and slashing like the mindless idiot he was (a.n./ sorry, Kuwa fans!! But he IS a baka ^-^;;;), and the creature soon turned its attention to this new attacker . . .

Bad idea.

The youkai had left itself open to the other three, and there was a loud shout as the spirit detective released a Rei Gun at it . . . miraculously it dodged most of the blast . . . although it's entire right side was blown away.

And still it came.

Tentacles shot out in all directions, pinning Kuwabara and Yusuke to trees. Kurama cried out, turning as a reflex to watch his friends get pinned against the trunks, knocked unconscious . . .

"BAKA KITSUNE!" He heard suddenly, then was slammed against the ground . . . hearing the sound of displaced air above him . . .

WHOOOSH . . . . . the blade-like tentacle that had been meant to spear him sliced through the tree directly in back of him (a.n./ NO, it was NOT one of the trees Yusuke and Kuwa were pinned to.....-.-;;). Kurama looked down at himself . . .

Hiei was lying on top of him, his head buried in the kitsune's shirt . . .

Fighting down the impulse . . . / Why isn't he moving?!? This is NO time or place to . . . /

Then he noticed the blood leaking into his shirt from the other, and cursed silently. / K'so . . . when did THAT happen?!?? / The sound of the falling tree brought him back, and he looked up quickly to see the already- weakened youkai trying to slink away. He growled under his breath.

"Coward . . ." He tried to get up to follow the demon, but Hiei's form clung to him . . .

"K . . . kur . . ama . . ." Sighing, the fox rose, scooping the youkai up in his arms as he stood.

Botan suddenly appeared, flying down to him on her oar, a worried look on her face . . .

"Kurama! What happened? Where's Yusuke?!?" He called out to her, indicating the trees where they were pinned to . . .

"They're over there . . . the youkai had luck on his side today . . . for now . . ." He muttered the last part under his breath . . . Botan caught the murmured confession, though, and her pink eyes widened.

"Kurama . . . you're not going AFTER him, are you? Aren't you—"

"I'm fine, Botan. You should tend to the others. I'll be back shortly."

"But—Kurama—"He deposited the fire youkai on the ground, against a tree, and then took a seed out from his hair. Giving Botan a reassuring smile, he turned and ran off into the forest, thinking while he transformed the harmless seed into a whip . . . / . . . I've got to get that youkai NOW . . . before he can recover . . . /

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hiei stirred in his sleep, slightly aware that he was . . . missing something . . . someone's . . . warmth . . . against his own . . .

The crimson eyes shot open, taking in his surroundings. Botan was nursing a semi-conscious Yusuke . . . though the baka (a.n./ you should ALL know who I mean, but in case you don't, it's Kuwa ^-^;;;;;) was still out cold. Then the fire demon realized something was missing . . . he quickly checked the scene again, looking for the redheaded fox . . .

Noticing the youkai's jerky movements, Botan looked up to find him awake. She had bandaged his wound first, because it had looked the most serious . . .

"Good morning, Hiei!" She said cheerfully. His red gaze shifted to her, then narrowed in slight annoyance.

"Where's Kurama." She sighed.

"He took off into the forest . . . to go finish off that youkai, I suppose . . ."

"What." Hiei said in an angry, curt tone, his temper sparking. / . . . baka kitsune . . . / Botan quivered a little under the fiery stare.

"Well . . . uh . . . he just LEFT . . . said he'd be back soon . . ." Hiei glared at her for a moment more, then stood, finding his katana in an instant . . .

"HIEI! YOU can't go!!" He looked over his shoulder at her, the lightning-fast demon was already halfway across the clearing/battle ground.

"Hn. Why not. Kurama did." She shook her head, eyes never leaving his defiant figure.

"Kurama wasn't seriously injured! You ARE!" He just 'hn'ed, then turned his back on her and sped off into the forest . . .

Botan sat back on her feet at being defeated . . . voicing her incredible annoyance at the now-absent Jaganshi . . .

"Honestly! I just don't GET that guy!!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kurama followed the slimy trail of the demon without much trouble, running through the forest with ease . . . vines parted for him, and roots moved slightly out of the way, making it so he wouldn't trip . . . he smiled to himself . . . it really was convenient, being a plant-wielder . . .

He broke into a clearing, and instantly had to duck. The now-familiar tentacles snapped out of the tree he had just been standing in front of. Kurama brought up his whip and the fight began . . .

The fox lashed out, the thorns cutting through the squishy mass like a knife through butter. (a.n./......uh......yeah...........a simile!! ^-^;;;........or is it a metaphor??? ^-^;;;;;;;....I THINK it's a simile, though.......heehee......^-^;;;;;; jus ignore me.........-.-;;;;)

Tentacles dropped to the ground, and the creature, seemingly enraged, came at him. Surprised at the sudden attack, Kurama brought his whip up in defense, trying to cut through the mushy form attacking him . . . the whip went straight through, and the redhead fox was engulfed in the jelly-like substance. He blacked out briefly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hiei followed the trail Kurama had gone down only minutes before. He burst into a clearing, finding the unconscious kitsune floating inside of the youkai, red hair fanning out in an eerie shroud . . . almost like he was . . . in water . . . / K'so!! / The Jaganshi thought / What if he can't breathe?!?! Kurama!! / His last thought burst out of his mouth just as he came at the jellyfish-like youkai, brandishing his katana.

"Kurama!!" Green eyes slitted open, then widened a little in recognition. The fox tried to move, but something inside of his captor reached out and stung him . . . the emerald gaze grew cloudy once more, and he drifted back into unconsciousness . . .

"K'so!!" Hiei shouted, seeing the kitsune black out again. Being a youkai that acted more than he thought, the fire demon sliced the center of the creature wide-open, narrowly avoiding slashing Kurama, as well (a.n./ -.- perhaps only once, will I say this: BAKA HIEI!!!.......on with the fic ^- ^). Without hesitation, he pulled Kurama out of the jelly-like mass, flitting a safe distance away from the youkai.

"Kurama! Kurama wake up!" He shook his friend's shoulders, but the fox's head just lolled back limply. / K'so . . . why won't he wake up?? . . . He can't be . . . / Anger surged through him, and he looked back over at the jelly-creature, setting the kitsune down gently and bringing his katana up . . . since no one was around, he muttered his thoughts aloud . . .

"I'll KILL him . . ." But he hadn't taken one step, when something very unexpected happened. There was a glow deep within the creature, and Hiei tensed, thinking it was an attack. But he was wrong . . .

In an explosion of vines, the squishy youkai was destroyed from the inside out. Crimson eyes blinked, then glanced down at the seemingly unconscious kitsune. A small smile found it's way onto the redhead's supposedly sleeping face, and Hiei rolled his eyes.

/ Baka kitsune . . . / He thought, bending down, knowing he couldn't carry Kurama back . . . it was a simple matter of size and weight.

"Oi, fox! Wake up!" Slowly, green eyes that were twinkling with amusement cracked open, and the redhead's smile grew a little wider as he took in the slightly annoyed fire demon kneeling next to him.

"Yes? What is it, Hiei?" The Jaganshi rolled his eyes again, but answered.

"Baka kitsune. Get up, and let's go."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back in the ningenkai, after all had been taken care of (a.n./ Yusuke and Kuwa returned home, Hiei and Kura going to the Minamino's, etc. ^-^;;); Kurama collapsed on his bed, rolling over a little so the Jaganshi could rest as well. Hiei just 'hn'ed and sat down on the floor in a dark corner, leaning against the wall, watching as the fox slept . . .

*~K*~U*~R*~A*~'*~S*~-*~D*~R*~E*~A*~M*~* (*~D*~R*~E*~A*~M*~*) (a.n./ btw, this truly IS a dream......it just so happens Kurama is also half- awake, but isn't acting intelligently........know that sounds impossible, but what how smart would YOU be if you were half-asleep, hm? ^-^;;;)

He was very content. Something was keeping him warm . . . something bubbling up from his stomach area . . . then it burned. Clutching his body at the sudden pain, he gasped. It was burning . . . burning all through him. K'so . . . the venom . . . his staggered thoughts realized . . . as another wave of pain shot through him, causing him to cry out . . .

*~B*~A*~C*~K*~-*~T*~O*~-*~R*~E*~A*~L*~I*~T*~Y*~* (*~R*~E*~A*~L*~I*~T*~Y*~*)

Hiei started awake, hearing his fox's cry of pain, though wondering for a fleeting moment why he was referring to the kitsune as HIS, as he flitted over to the tormented youko, bending over the bed. Kurama was shivering and sweating, a strange combination . . . curled up, his arms covering his stomach . . . the Jaganshi touched Kurama's arm gently, and shook him lightly . . .

"Kitsune . . . wake up . . ."

*~D*~R*~E*~A*~M*~*

Kurama flinched at the sudden touch at his arm, but then recognized the familiar ki . . . Hiei . . . he called out weakly . . . craving for the comfort of his . . . friend? . . . or was he something more . . . something . . . stronger . . . he reached out blindly, hoping to find the warmth of the youkai he knew so well . . . and perhaps . . .

*~R*~E*~A*~L*~I*~T*~Y*~*

"H—hiei . . . "The fire demon heard him whisper . . . then a hand grabbed his arm with shocking strength and pulled him onto the bed. Surprised, the fire youkai felt the moistness on Kurama's skin, the Jaganshi's cloak having been discarded when he had followed Kurama to the kitsune's house . . . the elegant arms enfolded the fire demon in a shaking embrace, forcing the Jaganshi closer . . .

*~D*~R*~E*~A*~M*~*

Kurama sighed in relief as the warmth from another's body seeped into him, dulling the burning fire that was coursing through his veins . . . and found a soft pillow directly in front of his face . . . he buried his face in it . . . it was very pleasant . . . the pillow carried the scent of . . . evergreens . . . and rain . . . (a.n./ ^-^;;;; yes, I KNOW that's right from my CYOA fic w/ Hiei.......^-^;;;;.......heeheehee......)

*~R*~E*~A*~L*~I*~T*~Y*~*

The Jaganshi felt Kurama nuzzle into his hair, and decided to take advantage of the moment . . . who KNEW what Kurama was going to do when he woke up . . . tentatively, the fire youkai put his arms around the kitsune, resting his head against the other's chest . . . the damp shirt was a bit uncomfortable, but with a small burst of ki Hiei quickly dried the clammy fabric . . . before succumbing to sleep . . . and following the kitsune into oblivion . . .

Ohhhhhh boy. What's gonna happen when Kura wakes up?? ^-^;;; Wait for the next chappie to find out, and......wha'd you guys think? Reviews are appreciated. ^-^

Oh! Btw, the reikai tantei were assigned a new case involving the jellyfish- demon-thingy when this fic began. ^-^;;;; Sorry I didn't mention that before.............^-^;;;;;;;;;; Bye!

-Kita

OH!!

PS-

You remember that very PATHETIC fight scene between Rikou and Kura? (a.n./ ^-^;;;;;;;;..........remembering the sadness of the scene......heeheehee.......-.-;;;;;) Well, this was my attempt at a BETTER one. ^-^;;;; Gomen for the other!! ^- ^;;;;;;;

Ja ne!