Disclaimer: I don't own anything except this fic and the mind that helped me write this useless drivel. Flames are encouraged. If you choose to flame, please give me a reason for the flame.


Several weeks later, Karasu rounded Youko and Kuronue into the meeting room. "Guess what today is," Karasu demanded. He put his hands, palms down, on the round table. He looked eagerly at both of them, wondering if either of them remembered what would happen on this glorious day. His jet-black hair was tossed carelessly over his slender shoulders.

Kuronue yawned. His bat wings stretched and settled back into place. "Is it time for your yearly bath? If that's the case, I'm sure as hell not going to play spectator to that."

The violet-eyed demon raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get such a foolish idea? I happen to bathe once a week." The corner of his eyes crinkled, playing along with the bat demon's joke. He did bathe more than once a day. How else was his long hair going to stay so shiny? He wasn't like Youko who had natural clean and silky hair.

"On a more serious note," he continued, "that isn't what I speak of." He nodded at his favorite thief. "Do you have a more rational answer?"

Youko smirked as Kuronue wrinkled his nose and began to toy with his pendant. In these few weeks, the fox demon had actually come to respect this newcomer that seemed to be hyper and calm at the same time. His sarcasm was well appreciated. The two had become close—they had actually become friends, if demons could form bonds of friendship. He turned his golden gaze to meet the violet gaze of Karasu. He racked his mind, thinking of what event could possibly excite Karasu this much.

"Might today be the day when I go against the human Spirit Detective?" he asked.

"You happen to be correct." The corners of his violet eyes crinkled, showing that he was smiling behind his the mask that covered his nose and mouth. "I'm assuming you know how to stop him."

"Stop him?" Youko tossed his silver hair over his shoulder. "Please. He's a human. Even if he's a Spirit Detective, there isn't a possible way for him to escape my plants." As if in response vines inched their way across the stone table to flick at Kuronue's ruby pendant.

Kuronue snatched the pendant out of the vines way. "Hey, watch it!"

Karasu flicked a stray lock of jet-black hair out of his face. "For your sake, lets hope so. You don't want to know what will happen if you fail this mission." He turned his back on them and left, a sign that the meeting was adjourned for now.

Youko raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was another one of the crow's sadistic jokes or if he was serious. He glanced at his friend to see how he was reacting. To his amazement, the bat demon wasn't wearing a sarcastic smile. He was looking intently back at him, his cobalt eyes flickering with a strange emotion.

"If you know what's good for you, don't fuck this up," Kuronue murmured.

Then it hit the kitsune. It was obvious that the raven-haired demon only wanted him to succeed so Botan could be within easy reach. Youko snorted. "The only drawback would be that you wouldn't get the ferry girl. Is that all you're worried about? If you want sex, grab a concubine of your own."

The bat demon didn't wink at the suggestion. The mix between a glare and gaze didn't change. The expression hardened causing his handsome face to darken. "I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about what Karasu will do if you don't. If you're lucky, he'll kill you."

"And if I'm not lucky?"

"You'll never be yourself again." His features seemed to darken even further. "You think that the torturing would be the worst, but it's the way he does things. If he only hurt you, you would be fine…"

Youko stared at him in confusion. Surely the Kuronue he had gotten to know in the past few days didn't know anything about this. He was too nonchalant with the way things were. It was like nothing bothered him. But hearing him now? "How would you know these things?"

"It was over 10 years ago when I met Karasu." The darkness faded away a little. Kuronue sat down in a chair beside his friend. He pushed his hat back and gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling. "I recently became a thief. I had to do something to provide for myself. My parents abandoned me you see. I was desperate to do anything for food and shelter. Pretty soon I became a master thief. I could steal even the most priceless treasure and get away with it. I know you understand how it feels to be a thief at such a high level."

Youko nodded his agreement.

"That's how it was. I felt like nothing and nobody could stop me. But I ran into Karasu. He lured me in the same way he must have done to you. I worked for him. Even though I was allowed to do whatever I wanted, I was still a slave. I didn't have a choice about completing his missions. One day I was unable to complete one…"


##### Flashback #####

Karasu stood with his slender arms crossed over his chest. "Don't fail me. It's a simple mission for a thief of your caliber…unless your life has only been a joke." He raised an insinuating eyebrow at the young demon before him.

"What do I have to do this time?" Kuronue sighed heavily. He was tired. He had been on missions nonstop for several weeks now. He was exhausted.

"You must go through the portal into Reikai. Steal the dark items and give them to me. We'll sell it back to them for thrice the price."

The bat demon groaned. He flinched. It was too late to take it back. He knew that Karasu wouldn't have anything to do with complaining. He folded his leathery wings tightly against his body.

"Was that a groan? Do you have something against the way I run things? Perhaps I can turn you in to Reikai. I'm sure they'd pay a pretty price to have the opportunity to lop off a limb."

"N-no! I didn't mean to. I'm just so tired. I hadn't had a chance for a good rest in almost a month."

"Feh. You're a weakling just like the rest. Come. Follow me."

Kuronue shivered nervously. He stared blindly into the dark room, searching for an escape if he was locked in. Karasu laughed at the demon's young fear.

"You're afraid. That's good. You know, that's what I like about you younger demons. You know fear. It's delicious…" He laughed again. He grabbed Kuronue's wrists and attached chains to them. The chains were looped through a metal ring that was firmly attached to the metal ceiling. "See that? No escape. Nobody can hear you scream too. Scream all you'd like—in fact I'd prefer if you do."

The bat demon stared fearfully at Karasu. He had only heard dark rumors of what the crow did to his captives. He closed his eyes when he saw Karasu move close to him.

The crow demon smiled. "I want you to look at me." He touched Kuronue's face. "Look at me. Haven't you ever wondered what I hide behind this mask of mine? What do you think lays behind it?"

Kuronue opened his cobalt eyes. He figured that the crow had some sort of disfiguration. He looked curiously at him. Karasu took the mask off. Strangely, there was nothing wrong with him. His lips had an almost feminine curve to them. With his lower face revealed, his face only showed a delicate bone structure. It was chillingly handsome.

He flashed him a cool smile. "Surprised?" He swept a scrutinizing gaze over Kuronue's body. "I'm used to tormenting people with their clothes removed. It makes them feel all the more helpless…but since I'm partial to you, I'll respect your pride and keep your clothes on. Unless you prefer otherwise."

"N-no."

He ran the tips of his fingers down Kuronue's cheeks. "You're so young…it'd be such a waste to kill you. You'll be good to me in the future, correct?" He smiled when the younger demon nodded. "Of course I'm correct. You aren't in a position to argue with me." He held up his right hand. Green light erupted around them like rain. All of it moved closer to the younger demon. As soon as Kuronue leaned away from Karasu's fingers, one of the green orbs exploded. He screamed out in painful surprise.

"Scream all you like. I enjoy hearing it." He chortled and pressed his lips against the vein in Kuronue's throat. He felt the fast pace of Kuronue's pulse against his lips. "I can almost taste your fear and pain…" One by one, he let the green orbs explode. They were all very close to becoming a mortal wound, but Karasu was very skilled. He knew what area hurt the most but wasn't lethal and he knew where the major areas were that could kill you. He had been doing this for a long time.

"You won't disobey me anymore, will you?" he asked calmly, watching as the demon before him cried out in pain with each successive hit.

"No, sir!" Kuronue moaned. Tears of shame and pain flooded down his cheeks.

###### End Flashback #####


Youko gaped at his friend. "How can you act the way you do now after undergoing such things?!"

"After he hurts you like that, he won't do it again. Everything is fine between the two of us. Since I survived, he respects me now. That's why I'm able to joke with him…but I'll still never be the same. I was happier before I ran into him." He smiled sadly and returned to playing with his pendant. "I wouldn't recommend pissing him off. You don't want to know what I had to go through. Trust me on this. So just win this thing and you'll be fine."

Youko ignored the urge to flinch at this warning.


Thank you to each and every one of you that reviewed my last chapter! You're the people that encourage me to update! Here's the reviewers in the order you reviewed:

Volpone: Well, a fivesome would be…a little strange, even though you would enjoy it. Poor poor perverted little Volpone. Lol I'm glad you find Karasu's personality to be charming. Thanx!

KuramaandHiei4ever: You enjoyed it? Thanx! This chapter is kinda pointless, but maybe you can still enjoy it? I think it's kind of psycho…especially Karasu. He's a sadist! ::hides under bed::

Miyako14: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed! Here's another chapter for ya!

Psychopath143: I barely even KNOW Kuronue, but I've seen him used and Volpone filled me in on who he is. I probably won't portray him too well, but I'm trying!

Ame no kodomo:Yep! I updated all right! Hope you enjoy this chappie too! O.O I hope I didn't leave you hanging for too long! So sorry if I did! School is pretty hectic with homework this year!

Teef: No prob! Here ya go, I updated!

Spoonerific: Well, it sort of explains how Kuronue can get away with calling Karasu a freak. Lol. You dunno what a closet supporter is? That's ok cuz I don't either!

Licensed to Kill: You changed your penname again! That's ok. So you think it's not drivel? Thanks so much! You flatter me. ::blush::

Gippal: I agree with you on Kuronue, but I think I like both of them. ::grins:: Karasu is so sadistic…how can you resist that? Lol.

Prettynutter: Thanks!

Thanks for the reviews!