A/N: Hiei has just returned from his fight with Ryokha, battered and bruised, the antidote hides in his pocket, only to be seen by him and Kurama. This is in the POV of Hiei.
Chapter Thirteen
When I Return
My speed, I now realize, was my greatest asset. I had run miles down to the border of the barrier. Koenma had already admitted me through, so it was easy to return. I saw Yusuke and the others waiting for me on the other side. Yukina and Keiko were with them, I don't know why.
I passed through the barrier, feeling the same kind of displacement that always followed. I turned and looked at Yusuke, he didn't meet my gaze.
"He's getting worse," Yukina said, quietly. "He's asking for you, you should go and see him."
"Please, hurry, Hiei," Keiko added.
"Botan's with him now, shorty," Kuwabara said, making my nickname from him sound like a joke.
I swallowed, not wanting to be slowed down, but not knowing if I should leave the others behind, Kurama wouldn't want that.
"Go on, what are you waiting for?" Yusuke almost screamed. I didn't understand why he was acting like this, but I had to go and see Kurama.
--------An Hour Later--------
I placed miles between them and me. I was in great pain from the earlier fight, but that didn't even compare to what kind of pain Kurama was in. I was slightly limping on my left foot because of one of the lightning balls Ryokha through at me. It felt as if my leg was going to fall off.
I didn't know how much longer I had to run until I looked up. A massive door barred my path. It was the doors that lead to the building Kurama was staying in, Koenma's big office, the outpost to the Spirit World.
I opened it, not carrying that Koenma's Ogre waited for me on the other side. I ran not carrying about the door I left swinging open on that same Ogre. I slid in front of the infirmary door not carrying about Koenma who was squished. And then, I stopped. I was ready to see Kurama, and all I can do is hope he is ready to see me.
I sighed, and opened up the door. Botan sat on his bed. When she saw me, she stood up and motioned me to come in; I did as such. She walked to me, meeting me in the middle of the room.
"He is sleeping now. Please don't leave him, Hiei. When he wakes we can give him the antidote," she said, as quiet as a mouse. She passed me and left the room, leaving me to myself. I walked to the bed next to him and lay down. I was asleep in no time.
I suddenly awoke as something touched my arm. I opened my eyes to see Kurama staring back at me. He was smiling, but behind that smile came a rush of hidden pain.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi." We stayed like that for some time.
I looked at him and smiled, something I don't casually do. I leaned forward until we were only a hair's ends apart. I had told Kurama that I loved him, but I never proved it to him. I closed my eyes as I leaned ever so closer, and touched him, my lips, to his.
It felt so gentle and so pure to do this. It felt as if I had walked into a meadow and the only thing that was appealing was a single rose. I didn't pick that rose, but, instead, I joined it. To always be with it.
I pulled from him; at the instant the kiss should have been further embraced. Kurama was ill, and I was the only one who carried the cure, I had to give it to him before it was to late.
Kurama gave me a startled look until I searched deep within my pocket for the antidote. I pulled it out, only to see what had become of the contents. The liquid inside of the vial had turned an unmistakably black.
"I don't understand," I said to myself, allowing Kurama to overhear me, "it was green before..."
------Flashback to Chapter 10------
"Who said I was carrying it on me?" Ryokha asked, her voice, full of malice and hatred.
----------End of Flashback----------
'She must have been carrying this on her that entire time. It wasn't the antidote, and she knew Kurama was the only one who would know that, that's why it was he who was attacked. He will be left to die...'
I looked back up at Kurama he seemed to understand. He seemed to understand that he was condemned to death, that his last chance to hold onto life was just denied to him. I suddenly saw that rose in the meadow wither beside me, and I knew there was nothing I could do to help it.
"Kurama," I whispered.
"I know. That's not the antidote, that is another type of poison," he said. He seemed drained, and he spoke so slowly as if his entire soul had been destroyed by the poison, his last hope had been destroyed.
I stayed with him for the rest of that night, that day, and the preceding night. I awoke during that last night. I was lying on his bed, right next to him, I was awoken by him. He was being tormented in his sleep. His face became contorted as he tried to force himself awake. A few words escaped his cold lips.
"Hiei.... don't.... lea-leave...me..."
"I won't my fox, I won't."
I felt it, as his soul left his body. His body soon became cold and hard. He had died, and there wasn't anyway I could have saved him. He had died in my arms, and yet there was no warmth I could give him.
I kissed him soundly on the cheek and left him for the others to find. I walked out of the door, and out of their lives. I had only stayed as long as I had for Kurama. I thought he wouldn't understand what I was feeling, so I didn't say anything, I just wanted to be near him. But now, I can't, so I left, for good.
A/N: Sorry about killing off Kurama, but it had to be done. There is one last chapter to my little saga; it will be called Lone Wolf.