Um not much I can say, sorry for out of characterness, and what not. Sorry for not updating in so long, for those of you who do care. Well that's about it.

Chapter 7

Kurama laid awake in his bed idly staring at the ceiling in an effort to bore himself to sleep. It was strange to him how peaceful his nights had become. He had not had the dream anymore, not for a while, not since that night. The night he almost died. Not even a faintest image, nothing. It was as if the dream had never invaded his psyche.

For some reason the redhead had found that more troubling than not. Actually it was a bit of an annoyance, however comical in its irony.

First I could not rest because I was plagued by a dark dream, now not having it, is what keeps me up nights.

Kurama gave a small bitter laugh, as he continued to stare at the dark mass that hovered around him. There was no after glow of malicious garnet eyes, no strange noise, just utter and deafening silence in toneless darkness.

Kurama turned over in his bed tired of looking at the ceiling, his eyes fell upon his desk, a textbook sat atop it. With a light impatient sigh, Kurama switched on his bedside lamp then rose up from the warm comfort of his bed. Kurama was unsure of what he expected to see when he walked over to his desk, but if the events of the night were any indication of what he would find, there would be no cause for alarm.

Kurama's eye widened momentarily, but quickly relaxed. He was just a little jumpy, but it was just his history book that was sitting on the desk. Still, Kurama could not help flipping through the pages. Nothing was out of the ordinary; Kurama was slightly disappointed. "I'm acting as if I want something to happen" the boy said to himself.

Raking his hand through his hair Kurama let his head droop then heaved another soft sigh. This was a good thing after all, was it not? If something were to happen he could be in trouble. Hiei would not be there to wake him. Worse he would not be able to wake, because he was not sleeping.

Kurama heaved another sigh to clear his mind, then looked out the window, the cold winter weather was fading, even in the cool of the night. The boy could not help opening his window and sitting in the windowsill to look out in the darkness of the night. For some time Hiei had haunted the branches of the tree outside his window, but not tonight. There was only the night.

Everything seemed so motionless in the darkness. The branches of the tree outside his window stood still, as if frozen by the cold of the night. Kurama looked out toward the moon in the sky. The boy looked shocked for a moment the moon had a red glow. "How… odd." Said Kurama not wanting to go into the strange superstitions that follow the event of a red moon. Still the fact that it sat there, hanging lazily in the sky with its prediction of bad tidings.

A red moon, a bad omen Kurama thought with a hardy amount of sarcasm. Closing his window the boy returned to his bed to try and get some rest, though it seemed impossible now. As Kurama nestled his head into his pillow, he swore he heard something. A voice, faint yet fearful. Kurama quickly sat up, and looked around for a moment, but within an instant the voice was gone replaced by the sound of the softly blowing wind. The boy laid his head back down, and let the darkness of the night clear his mind.

-

The scarlet light of the late evening sun was making the trees cast ghastly shadows over the landscape. There was a surreal calm in the air; broken only by a soft breeze that was blowing, lifting up leaves to carry them away. As always a lone figure stood on his perch high up in a tree, on a secluded branch, his face emotionless, as if he were lost in some silent contemplation.

The conundrum of the day, a dream.

It was unsettling, to say the least, how something as simple as a dream could cause such problems yet, it was so.

Kurama was no longer being afflicted with those strange dreams anymore, so it seemed. That was somewhat of a relief, but now the boy seemed to be consumed by a ceaseless search for answers, and Hiei was still having trouble forgetting the night of Kurama's dream. It was one of the few times he had ever had to really worry about the life of one of his friends. His best friend at that, though the curt little fire demon would not have admitted to it. Of course, there were few things in the matters of emotions and endearment that Hiei would admit to; not that that was of great consequence at the moment, in any case, Hiei was quite perturbed.

Below the treetops the wind was picking up leaves, and twisting them about, lifting up in a spiraling whirlwind, only to drop them and let them fall gently to the ground. The specter in the tree, groaned and covered his eyes as if his sight was causing him pain. Hiei felt himself stumble backward, luckily since he had wonderful poise Hiei did not fall. Instead, he stumbled backward his back hit the trunk of the tree, and his legs slide out from underneath him, and he slide comfortably down on the branch of the tree.

Every time I close my eyes it seems…

Hiei shook his head his face was now a sickly ashen hue. A discontented grunt rumbled from the fire demon's throat.

Those eyes…

Hiei flinched. An electric spark of pain coursed through Hiei's body, and he felt as if he would pass out from a strange weakness that was hovering over him. Taking in a deep, yet rather labored and ragged breath, Hiei tried to relax himself.

They haunt me…

There was still a shadow, of a glimmer, of a glowing ruby glint flashing in Hiei's peripheral view. Hiei raked his hand through his hair before letting his hand fall listlessly to his side.

Ever since that night.

Hiei's mind began to wander, what could have been causing him to see that strange vision. Those eyes. Did it perchance have something to do with the fact that he had intruded into Kurama's dream, or was it that the creature of shadows and nightmares found a more suitable home in his subconscious? "No." Hiei shook his head as he spoke. "That's a foolishly juvenile thought. Not even believable."

Though Hiei shook his head again. Whatever it was Hiei wanted an answer and soon. At least, the creature did not control his dreams to such a powerful degree as it had with Kurama but, it haunted Hiei through his waking hours which was hardly that much more acceptable.

Then again… I've always been haunted by visions. The only difference is that this isn't one of my own creation.

Once again the eyes flashed in Hiei's mind. He shook his head and pushed the vision away. The side-effect of an overactive mind, probably. Just something that stuck in his mind because he might still be worried, something else Hiei would never admit to. Even though he does worry, more than most realize.

The vision was something Hiei could easily write off, but then there was this strange twinge of pain he felt. A pain in his chest… In the same spot. Hiei once again shook his head, somewhat of a smile crossed his lips. A strange reaction, though the smile did not at all hide a hint of Hiei's confusion or apprehension. In fact, the smile really only served to intensify them.

When the wave of weakness and feeling of vulnerability finally passed, Hiei rose and looked toward the setting sun. The night was coming again, there was no denying it, he was worried, but no one else would know. Hiei gave one last moment to an obscure thought that floated through his head. He looked down to a point in the trees below, before he flittered off.

-

Kurama was taking the shortcut to get home today. Ironically the shortcut did not shorten the travel time, or distance between Kurama, and his home. In all truth it took much longer.

The red head walked on casually with his bag casually slung over his left shoulder in the early evening sun that bathe the world in a deep crimson-orange glow, as shadows grew. Kurama listened to the sound of the grass under his feet it was a peaceful reminiscent sound the boy had to admit. The redhead could not help but smile a little. Things had actually returned to normal, well as normal as the life of a spirit detective could be.

Oddly enough though, the day had proven themselves to be peaceful. Kurama could not keep his mind from drifting back the dreams of the days before. They were too powerful, and influential to just stop so suddenly. There had to have been some reason he had had them. Some meaning behind the fact that the person in his dream looked so much like him, that it was enough to make Kurama's skin crawl. Some reason why the dark creature wanted his life, his soul. An involuntary shiver ran down Kurama's spine, and the hairs on the boys neck seemed to prickle.

Kurama halted in his stride; sharply he craned his neck to look over his shoulder. Someone, or something appeared to be following the boy. By the feeling Kurama was getting it might have been human. Of course if it was a human, there was something off about this person. They had an air about them that seemed to create a chill that went down to Kurama's bones.

"Who's there?" Kurama inquired his voice dangerously calm, as he turned around fully. His eyes scanned the shadow, and foliage that surrounded him; searching for whatever movement they could distinguish. Kurama listened intently for any sound that he could make out. Anything: a stray breath, a foot pressing down the plush grass, a snapping twig resounding in the silence. The boy however, could make out nothing except for a distant whistling of the wind.

Turning around and continuing his slow stride, Kurama was ready to write off the feeling to a bold female admirer. Until the feeling… the person seemed to vanish. Kurama's head quickly snapped to a spot behind him. Shaking his head Kurama turned around, his mind was still finding ways to confound him. "Hm" Kurama droned softly adjusting the bag on his shoulder.

Kurama walked forward giving a quick glance behind him he thought he saw a light that wore an ethereal blue glow. But before he was even sure of what he had seen the light was gone. The only thing the redhead could do was turn back around and continue on his journey home, it would be late soon.

Kurama gave another abrupt stop, then gave a quick jump back, just as something long pale, thick, and cordlike fell down toward the boy, from behind a row of trees. The object slowly slide back into the shadows as Kurama watched with wary eyes. The object was a gigantic tail, from what Kurama could gather. An instant later the head of the creature zipped out from the trees. It appeared to be a large snake. (A/N. Think the movie Anaconda) Kurama was able to tumble out of the way.

The snake demon's head peered out of the trees where it had hidden itself. "It lookss as if ssome unlucky human is going to become my meal." The snake hissed, after sticking out its forked tongue, as Kurama kneeled on the ground. The red head let his bag slide from his shoulder. He had not expected a fight, but he supposed that he could not avoid it. Besides this snake demon seemed like it would be nothing more than an inconvenience to deal with, if nothing else. Kurama would just have to make sure that he did not get himself stained with blood, least he worry his family any further.

Kurama rose slowly as ran his hand into his hair entangling it within the scarlet locks; his emerald eyes narrowed as he looked at his opponent. A calculating glint flashed on Kurama's face as he went over his movements in his mind. The red head closed his eye waiting until the demon snake to lunged its head forward; giving a deadly hiss as it did. A dangerous gleam had now taken over Kurama's eye which had now flown open; in that instant the boy was holding his rose whip.

The snake was quite surprised to see the cordlike weapon that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. However stopping quickly in the middle of its attack the snake demon was able to dodge the lashes of the redhead's attacks, and force Kurama back.

The snake demon seemed quite pleased with itself continuing to attack making a counter impossible for Kurama to make. The boy could only try to dodge the demon's spry attacks. The snake demon's head disappeared back into the trees again as it had after each attack. Kurama looked around himself, the boy listened to the sound of the demon as it maneuvered through the trees. His only warning of where the demon would come from next.

Kurama picked up a movement in a tree limb just above him, as some leaves fell at his feet. It's time I end this. Kurama thought, he leapt back then slashed at the point in the tree with his rosewhip. When the boy landed all that fell was a tree limb that he had broken with his attack. Kurama gave a quick gasp he had left himself wide open; the snake demon took this opportunity to attack. Before Kurama could even move the snake demon was sinking its dripping fangs deep into his shoulder.

Kurama winced in pain when the snake demon's fangs sank into his shoulder. A cry of pain and surprise escaped from Kurama; his rosewhip fell from his head and blood stained his shirt around the opening of his fresh wound. When the demon had released Kurama from the tight grip of its jaws, the red head stumbled backward holding his shoulder. Kurama winced again, it felt as if his chest were on fire, and now his head was becoming light.

Kurama's knees grew weak and he found himself sinking to the ground. The snake demon, now confident that he held the upper hand slipped out of the tree his whole body encircled the area where Kurama was settled on the ground.

Kurama wobbled as he tried to stand his vision already becomig blurry as he swayed from side to side trying to stay on his feet.

"You may have notissed that you are becoming weak and your body is filled with pain. Thatss because my venom is very powerful. Your death will be painful and ssslow. Within a few more minutess you will losse consciousssnesssss completely. Do not worry I will not let you ssuffer long." Kurama heard the snake demon say as he tried his best to focus on the demon. Kurama blinked a few times but found the he was far too disorientated to see anything clearly. Already a searing pain was coursing through Kurama's body.

"Damnit." Kurama intoned softly trying to keep his eyes on the darkening image of the demon before him. The redhead found himself sinking down to the ground again, from the overwhelming feeling of weakness.

The demon saw Kurama pass out, and a laugh bubbled up from its throat, then it lunged forward. A gasp of surprise followed by a gurgling sound escaped from the snake demons mouth. "How can thiss be?" the demon hissed when he realized what had happen. In Kurama's hand was a long sharpened pole like object. The pole protruded from the back of demon's head, the pole entered the demon's body just below the start of the demon's jaw.

Breathing heavily Kurama dragged himself away from the demon's body. The venom affects were overcoming him. Surly Kurama could find an herb that would allow him to manufacture an antidote to the venom, but that would take far more time than the boy knew he had. All that Kurama could do now was lay with his back pressed against a tree as darkness threatened to claim him.

The boy was surprised to hear sound of something falling from the trees above him. The redhead raise his head, and opened his eyes as wide as his weakened state would allow. All he could see before him was a shadow dark and tall. Within the shadow were eyes that glowed a bright red. Too weak to fight Kurama just let himself slip into unconsciousness.