K-chan: Greetings. I feel the need to explain Rae-chan's long absence, so I shall. Her internet is broken due to technical difficulties, however, she claims to be able to control your minds from afar...NOW, on to other things. I would like to thank Sonya-White-Angel for her constant support. Thank you.

Kurama: Perhaps now you should let them read the chapter...

K-chan: Hm...Good idea...Oh, yeah, also, sorry about previous short chapters, but they were necessary.

Discaimer: K-chan and Rae-chan are obsessive idiots and do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Kusahiko looked around. "We should be safe here, for a while."

They were in a thick forest with trees so high that it blocked out the sun. The silence that had descended upon the group over the past few hours had never really lifted until Kusahiko had spoken

Reiko leaned against a tree, looking about wearily, her harsh penetrating gaze fixed on Kusahiko. "You said you would explain," she said quietly. "Tell them how you betrayed us."

Kurama's green eyes shot over to Reiko. "It's not true," he said at last, almost pleading. "You're mistaken."

"In a sense, she is mistaken. I didn't betray you because I was never with you," Kusahiko said, his voice layered with self-hate.

"What difference does it make?" Reiko demanded, voice quivering now as she tried to control herself. "Either way, you were probably planning to kill us all."

"You're mistaken in that as well, but anyway, I've been working for the demon that is after Reiko and Kasumi. I joined him shortly after all of my friends were killed in a gang riot. My job, was to assist in the capture of the half demons, Reiko and Kasumi. My job should have been easy, but, there's always room for mistakes…" Kusahiko took a deep breath and paused.

Kurama could only stare in horror, his hand forming a fist, though he didn't realize it. "Then you lied to me. Lied about why you had come here, lied about how you had changed. You're the same as ever!" he cried in disgust.

Kurama's words pierced Kusahiko like daggers, and what made the pain worse was knowing that it was all true. The demon couldn't bring himself to look at his brother, so, instead, he continued his tale, looking at the ground. "My mistakes started when I waited to send out my signal when Kurama attacked the girls in the forest, I waited until he regained himself, rather than sending it out immediately when I found the girls like I should have. If I had sent the signal when I was supposed to, you two would have been captured with ease, but they would have killed Kurama. I couldn't bring myself to do that…"

Kurama's gaze softened slightly. Could he be telling the truth? Then again, Kusahiko had always been intelligent. Was this just part of his plan?

"So I waited. I screwed up my orders some more by revealing myself to you. I could have carried out my tasks easily if I had stayed hidden., like I was ordered….I watched my brother get hurt because of my mission. I felt guilt for some reason or another."

A pang of guilt also hit Reiko. He, as well as Hiei, had risked their lives in order to help. Obviously, they were not life threatening injuries, but still….

"I truly messed up my career as an evil villain when I…met all of you. You all showed me what it was like to live without deceit. You are all honest, good people, and true friends. I suppose I liked what I saw, because I decided that I didn't want to lie to you anymore. So, when we were in the village, I found my boss and quit. I don't regret my decision," Kusahiko stopped now, waiting for the blow to fall, for the yelling to begin. "I know it's not much of a consolation, but I'm sorry for deceiving you all."

Instead, utter silence followed. Both Kurama and Reiko, who seemed the most hurt by it all, didn't know what to say.

"You…traitor!" Kuwabara yelled in anger. His rash words broke the silence. The boy drew his sword and charged at Kusahiko.

The demon stepped out of the way and Kuwabara hit a tree. Reiko winced, imagining how much that must have hurt.

Yusuke cleared his throat. "Can we trust you, then, to be on board with us the rest of the way?"

All eyes turned to Yusuke as he spoke and then shifted to Kusahiko.

The fox looked up. "You're actually willing to allow me to stay after what I've done?"

Yusuke nodded. "If we can trust you," he added.

"You can," Kusahiko said gratefully.

Kasumi walked over to Kuwabara and poked his limp form with a stick. "Are you dead? If you aren't among the living any longer, speak up."

Mufufu…." Kuwabara muttered.

Yusuke arched an eyebrow. "Just leave him there. It's his own dumb fault."

Kurama eyed him carefully. "At least his intentions were good," he suggested.

K-chan+laughs at Kuwabara+

Kurama: That's not very nice of you.

K-chan: So?

Kurama: You shouldn't laugh at other peoples pain.

K-chan: I apologize. +turns to readers with an evil grin+ Did you like the chapter? Did ya, huh huh?

Kurama: Please ignore her. She has had vast quatities of Mountain Dew and needs to be locked up. Please R&R. See you soon. Sayonara!