Author's note: And here's the next chapter. A little bit with Kurama and Hiei and a few problems involving Yusuke. But I don't want to give anything away. So just read, review and promise not to kill me.

Chapter Five

Yukina worked silently cleaning up the room that had just been recently used. Normally she was very happy to be whatever she could to help Genkai. However many things had happened that night, and no one at the compound could bring themselves to smile.

Naturally, Yukina had been surprised when Hiei appeared at the door carrying Kurama who looked like he had gone through hell and back. But she quickly regained her senses and for the next three hours she and Genkai worked to heal Kurama the best to their abilities while keeping Hiei from having a nervous breakdown.

It wouldn't have been so hard had they not run into one particular injury that was going to require some special attention.

"Look at this," Genkai had said. Hiei and Yukina leaned over to see a strange mark on Kurama's chest. "It's a seal. It seals any spirit and demon energy, which is probably why you probably couldn't sense him, Hiei."

Yukina's eyes widened. "But then, he doesn't…"

"Only as long as this mark is on his chest. The problem is it is carved into his skin. We have to be careful healing it, because if it scars he really won't have any energy left."

Yukina sighed and placed a few rolls of bandages in one of the cabinets. She and Genkai were able to remove the seal and heal the rest of Kurama's injuries, but he had yet to wake up. She peaked out across the hall to the room where Kurama was resting on a cot.

Personally, she was also worried about Hiei. He hadn't moved from Kurama's side since they'd finished healing him, and no emotion was present on his face. It wasn't the usual set face that he usually had either. It was just blank, almost lifeless. He'd been like that for hours, staring down at Kurama's unmoving form.

She couldn't imagine what was going through his head, but figured it was best he be left alone with his thoughts. He used to be his boyfriend and still obviously cared for him, even if only in a brotherly way (she couldn't really tell which.) But either way, she supposed this was hard for him. Heck, it was hard for her, and she didn't come close to knowing Kurama like he did.

Yukina finished with her work and decided to go back to her room to get some sleep. Before she continued, she stopped for a moment to slide the door to Kurama's room closed, giving him some privacy.

Hiei sat cross legged next to Kurama's cot on the floor. The sun was beginning to rise and Kurama had yet to move. He sighed. Yusuke would be back from his trip in a few hours. He hoped Kurama would at least be awake by then. He didn't think he would want Yusuke to see him like this. But at his point he didn't want to get his hopes up.

This whole scenario wasn't right. Kurama wasn't the type of person who would get himself into this kind of trouble (or get attacked by a plant, but that part couldn't be helped.) Kurama was stronger than any of them, and yet lately he'd been slipping. His senses weren't as sharp and he was always daydreaming. Ever since he started dating the detective…

Hiei shook his head. He couldn't start blaming this on Yusuke. It wasn't anyone's fault but that demon's, and that was the most important thing to remember at the time. Once people started blaming the wrong people or even themselves, thing only got worse.

He just had to keep his mind on the fact that he was going to kill the bastard that did this and everything would be fine eventually.

"Nngh…"

He looked down to see that Kurama was finally starting to wake. His eyes fluttered open before he quickly shot up in a sitting position. He winced and Hiei gently pushed him back down into a laying position.

Kurama blinked. "Hiei?" he tried to sit up again but has pushed back down.

"Genkai said no moving. You're still in the process of healing, fox."

Kurama blinked again. "What… how did you…"

"I found you and brought you here and Genkai and Yukina took care of you." He bit his lip, not wanting to do this. "Kurama… Genkai needs to know what happened to you… in detail. She…she needs to make sure there isn't something she missed like poison or… Kurama?"

He was sitting up again, staring at his hands. A few times it looked like he was going to say something, but stopped. Hiei frowned. He knew this was going to be hard for him, and he didn't want to cause his friend anymore pain than he'd already been through.

"Would it be easier for you if I…" he motioned to his Jagan.

Kurama looked at him for a moment before nodding. He laid back down and closed his eyes. Hiei removed his seal and placed his hand over Kurama's chest.

"Kuku kuku…" "Who's there?"

He felt his captor's slimy tongue force its way into his mouth.

He was yanked up and shoved roughly against the wall. "I wouldn't do that again if I were you, Kurama."

"I'll go after all of you're little friends."

"Go on. Tell me you want this." "I want this."

"Ahhh!" "That's right. Scream for me you little bitch."

"Master, it's time. He's here."

Hiei fell back a little as the images ended. He looked at Kurama to see that he was facing the other way. He reached out his hand wanting to say -something- to him, but nothing came out. But what had happened was… He was expecting it to be bad, but that was just…

"Kurama, I…"

"Who else knows?"

"Uh…" he started to say something, but was taken aback by the slightly hard tone of his voice. "Well, right now just me, Genkai, and Yukina."

"So then, Yusuke and the others don't know?"

"No, not yet."

"Don't tell them."

"Oka- wait. What?" he asked realizing what Kurama just said.

The older boy turned to him, "Please don't tell them, especially not Yusuke."

"But Kurama, I don't understand. Why not?"

"Please, Hiei, don't tell them, and have Genkai and Yukina do the same. Please!" he pleaded.

Hiei looked at him for a moment, wanting to tell him he couldn't do that. But that look in his eyes… He seemed so desperate. He was practically calling out for his help.

He sighed and nodded. "Okay, I won't tell them."

"Promise me Hiei! You have a bad habit of telling Yusuke things he doesn't need to know."

Hiei bit his lip. This was his last chance to back out…

"I promise."

Yusuke hopped off the school bus after the other students. He supposed his school could do some things right. He needed that time to catch up with Keiko and Kuwabara. He'd been sort of distant from them since he and Kurama started going out. But now the trip was over and he still had a few hours of daylight left in the weekend to spend with his favorite kitsune.

Speaking of which, where was he?

"Yusuke!"

He looked over the crowd of people to see a familiar redhead standing in the back. He called out to him and picked up his bag, running over to him.

"Hey Kurama," he said leaning over to give him a kiss, but was stopped. "Huh? What's wrong?"

Kurama just smiled. "It's nothing. I've just been feeling a little sick and I don't want you catching my cold."

"Oh, okay." He frowned as they started walking back in the direction of his house. That was weird. Kurama wasn't the type to get sick. But he didn't think too much of it.

They stopped in front of his apartment building and Kurama said his goodbye. "I have some stuff I need to get done. Sorry Yusuke."

Yusuke nodded kind of disappointed. "Sure, just don't let your school work you too hard. You're sick, remember?"

Kurama smiled again. "Right. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Sure." Their goodbyes said Yusuke walked up to his apartment, leaving Kurama alone.

The redhead sighed and headed home. He felt bad for lying to Yusuke, but he wasn't ready to face him just yet. He walked up the hill to his house, not noticing a short, spiky haired figure watching him from one of the bare trees.

Another week passed and Kurama was doing his best to avoid Yusuke (and just everyone in general) without raising suspicions. He didn't think it was really working but nobody confronted him about it, so he figured he was still good for a little while longer.

Another Monday came along and he found himself sitting in his homeroom, waiting for class to start. Kaitou sat down next to him, and he just continued to pretend to read his book.

"Hey, Kurama," he greeted him.

"Hey," Kurama replied tonelessly.

"You'll never believe what the guys and I did this weekend."

"Hmm?"

"Yeah, we uh… Dressed up in blue monkey suits and went on a homicidal rampage! Millions of pigeons died!"

"That's nice."

Kaitou frowned. Kurama was off today. And it wasn't just the fact that he was reading his book upside down and he just blew off a BS story about blue monkey suits and pigeon killing. He'd been off for the past week. He was acting kind of jumpy and distant, he wasn't paying attention in class, and he'd actually gotten a B on his last test! The teacher suggested that he go to the nurse after that one.

He wasn't sure what was up with him, but didn't really want to but in. He figured it was a personal problem and it was best to let him handle it on his own. Even so, he couldn't help but worry about him.

Friday came around and Yusuke was standing outside of Kurama's school, waiting for him to come out. He hadn't seen very much of him for a while, and figured it would be a nice idea to walk him home and maybe find out what was going on with him.

He heard the bell rand and watched the students file out, keeping an eye out for his boyfriend.

"Kurama!" he called out once he spotted him.

The older boy's head shot up and looked over at him. "Oh, hi," he said.

"Hey, I haven't seen much of you for a while."

"Yeah, sorry. I've been kind of busy." He started walking in the direction of his house and Yusuke followed.

"That's okay. Hey, you ready for this weekend? Tomorrow's my birthday, you know. You didn't forget did you? Kurama?"

The older boy kept on walking, not really paying attention to what he was saying. Yusuke frowned and continued to follow behind him.

"If you did, that's okay. It's not like you had to get me anything. Hey, is that what's been bugging you, cause you know I don't care if you get me anything."

"No," he replied sharply.

"Kurama, is something wrong?" He placed a hand on his shoulder, which Kurama shook off.

"Do you need something from me?" he asked harshly, continuing up the hill.

"Uh… Well, no…" he said softly, following him up the hill.

"Then stop following me!" he whirled around, knocking Yusuke onto his backside.

He looked up at the fuming boy with hurt and confusion in his eyes. "Kurama what…"

"Just leave me alone."

"But Kurama…"

"I said leave me alone! I HATE YOU YUSUKE URAMESHI!"