Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated; I'm just having a hard time with school. Final Exams week -_-; But summer vacation is starting in two weeks! *cheers* Then I'll really be able to update this fic! Probably like every other day! Thanks to my reviewers: hyperactiveme, Who Dares Wins, zsaigais, *, Jesanae Tekani, Kaz, Wicked-Wytch, Jesscheaux (I really loved your review! Kuwabara's awesome! :P) , and Lead Ed 89! You guys are so good to me! I liked all the constructive criticism, and really appreciate your true and honest opinions. Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter Two

Night seemed to claim the town, and the sun was getting ready to take its transitory sleep. The beautiful blue colors of the sky changed into a proud, darker shade and the moon was grinning at the world below. Mostly everyone around was fast asleep, giving in to the exhaustion that overcame them and they blissfully fell into the dream world, where their greatest ambitions and fantasies came to life.

There was only one person --- a boy, if you will, that dreaded this time of the "day". To him, the darkness was some evil demon coming to take him away from all that he treasured. He was the darkness's fatal prisoner, and now at this time, there was absolutely no escaping it. He was stuck, cornered and alone until the sun awoke and saved him from this merciless hell. All that this boy could do was to close his eyes and to surrender to the nightmares that overpowered his consciousness. Helpless and frightened were two emotions that he always felt, and he was sick of it. But there was absolutely nothing he could do... so he surrendered.

*~*

Out in the distance, a shimmering small light started to form. A short figure appeared, and was accompanied by two other entities. In a sudden rush of paranoia, he looked closer to the short shadow that seemed too familiar to not recognize. The black hair with white tips... the dark, midnight black clothes...

"Hiei?"

There was no reply, as if the three figures were deaf and blind to the fourteen-year-old boy that stood 100 yards in front of them. Kuwabara stood in confusion and disbelief, not knowing why the demon was accompanied by two other figures, or why any of them were here. In an instant, realization struck the boy and answered one of his questions.

The other two were Yusuke and Kurama.

Anger surged through every vein in his body and he clenched his fists. How dare they have a group meeting without him? Did they honestly think he was a poor attachment to the team and didn't deserve to be treated properly? His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the soft laughter coming from their side of the dark void. What was going on...?

"He's so pathetic. Honestly... how could you ever have considered him part of our team, Yusuke?"

That was Hiei... Kuwabara's nails sunk deep into his fists, causing blood to drip down onto the black, hard floor. Damn it! Were they really talking about him? His eyes shifted to the next figure, which resembled Yusuke's body structure.

"You're right Hiei, he is pathetic. He's never helped our team at all. He's only brought us down..."

"My thoughts exactly." Came the third voice.

No... Not Kurama too. Out of anyone in the entire team, Kurama was always the one who never really said anything that bad to Kuzuma... until now. The three strongest members of Team Urameshi laughed and taunted until the darkness wrapped itself around Kuwabara and sucked the life out him.

*~*

"NO!"

Sweat trickled down his face and he once again slammed his fists into the damp bed sheets. Damn! When would this literal nightmare end? What the hell was this? All of his other nightmares or visions hadn't involved useless information --- they either helped him in some way or told someone's past. And never before had he had nightmares that involved his other teammates directly. So... what was this? A warning? A message? Of what? What dangers could resolve with his team backstabbing him? It didn't make any sense!

In sheer frustration and rage, Kuwabara let out a cry of despair. He hated the situation he found himself in... He was helpless and frightened, like a miserable child. Maybe he was pathetic... Trying to redirect his thoughts into something else, he looked to the clock.

6:00 am.

He looked outside his window and saw that the moon was still taunting the world below. He knew the darkness was still trying to kill him, just like many other demons had tried to do before it. He knew he was destined to be the darkness's prisoner until the Sun, his only savior, took it all away.

RING!

He immediately jumped in surprise, only to realize the startling noise had come from the telephone ringing. Hastily, he grasped the telephone and cautiously put it in his ear.

"Hello?"

No reply. Silence filled the entire room and a chill swept up and down his spine.

"Is anybody there?"

Still, there was absolutely no answer. Except now, Kuwabara could hear a noise start to develop in the background. He strained his ears to listen, but the noise still seemed too distant. Suddenly, the noise became clear.

It was laughter.

Kuwabara lost himself in the fear and the phone almost fell to the floor as he was losing his tight grip on it. What the hell was going on?!

"I want your blood..."

Fear sent chills down his neck and sweat trickled down his forehead. His heart slammed hard against his ribcage, and every breath he took seemed impossible to breathe. Nausea erupted into his head, causing his body temperatures to revive the burning fire within his soul. Everything was swirling; a whirlwind of darkness and black until everything stopped and all Kuwabara could hear was a dial tone. He slammed the phone back into its receiver, trying to ignore the shivers that threatened to overcome him.

... What the hell just happened? Did he... just get a phone call that was related to his nightmares? How could anyone know about them, but he? Unless, there was actually someone behind it all. Or something...

RING!

An icy poison bit at his stomach and clawed its way into his heart. Despite the fear and paranoia he was experiencing, he couldn't help but try to fight back the overwhelming anger. How dare someone try to scare him again? Who the hell did they think they were? Trying to control this stimulating excitement and dread, Kuzuma picked up the phone.

"... Hello?"

Silence. The familiar fear started to well up in the pit of his stomach, and now sweat dripped down onto his already damp bed.

"Answer me! Is anybody there?!"

No reply once again. Getting tired of this relentless game, Kuwabara was about to shout into the phone when ---

"Hello? Kuwabara?"

Instantly the anger died down and the fourteen-year-olds body released the tension and strain it was undergoing just a few seconds ago.

"Oh... Hey Urameshi." Then his senses came to him. "... Wait, why the hell are you calling me so early in the morning?!"

"Oh... well, Keiko just called me to tell me that we should all go to the movies with her tomorrow. And you know how boring that is. Do you want to go?"

There was a brief silence and then a sigh.

"Fine... but you owe me big time for this Urameshi."

"I know, I know. Hey... are you okay?"

Despair welled up in Kuwabara's heart and fear sent chills running up the back of his neck.

"Of coarse I'm okay Urameshi! Why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno... you just sound a little... stressed. Are you sure everything's all right?"

"... Yes, I'm fine."

"Okay... see you later Kuwabara."

"Bye."

The boy was startled by the sudden silence that filled the still room, and all he could hear was his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Blood pounded in his ears, and no longer was he complaining about the quiet. Damn it! Why didn't he just tell Urameshi what was wrong? He had the perfect opportunity! It would've been so easy... just to let go and pour out everything that he was feeling. All the fear he went through and just what was going on in his mind. But he was no wuss, and he certainly wasn't a weakling. His pride and honor meant everything to him. Even if he was in mortal danger...

Which was something he was certainly in.

Outside, in the unkind world, the sun has finally awoken. Its bright rays touched the small town and revived most of its inhabitants. Most people dreaded the sight of the light and closed their eyes again, trying to hold on to the darkness. But only one person, --- a boy, if you will, that welcomed the sun with open arms. It chased the evil demons and spirits away and finally he had escaped the prison. For now.

In the dawning horizon, where a boy's savior had risen, someone, --- a demon, if you will, flew there with his arms crossed and his eyes ablaze with excitement. A grim smirk played happily on his lips, and a small-suppressed chuckle escaped his throat.

"Soon... so very soon. I will have your blood."