Hey, everyone. Sorry for the wait. I'm just too lazy…anyways, here's an update for you all.


Shattered Twilight

Chapter III


The burning of Shizuru and Kuwabara's bodies was agony for Yuusuke. When the flames had died down, he had sunk to the ground, clutched Keiko in his arms, and cried. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yukina fall, and was immediately pulled into Hiei's embrace. Kurama had stood alone through the ordeal, gazing at the pyre, the flames reflecting in his eyes. At one point, Yuusuke was sure that he saw one tear glide down the redhead's cheek.

Finally, the fires went out, but they remained, staring at the remains of the bodies.

Hiei spoke. "We should go in." His voice sounded hoarse, and Yuusuke wondered if he had cried. He stood, pulling Yukina with him, and guided her inside with an uncharacteristic gentleness.

Yuusuke got to his feet as well, and helped Keiko up. He started to walk towards the cabin, and then turned.

Kurama hadn't moved from his spot. The cool night breeze ruffled his long hair, swirling it around him and obscuring his face from view.

"Kurama?" Yuusuke said softly. The redhead seemed to start at the sound, and turned to face Yuusuke.

"I'm sorry;" Kurama's voice was quiet. "I didn't mean to space out like that."

"It's okay." Yuusuke let go of Keiko's shoulder and crossed to the redhead, gently wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close. "It's okay, man."

He felt Kurama nod against his chest.


When dawn settled over the house, Yuusuke was awakened by the soft sound of crying. He sat up in bed and looked around the bedroom. His eyes settled on Yukina.

The koorime was sitting up, her legs pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her knees. Her slim shoulders were shaking with quiet sobs.

Yuusuke rolled out of bed and crossed the room, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Hey;" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Yukina?"

She looked up at him. "Yuusuke-san?" Her voice held surprise. Yuusuke tried not to look shocked at the koorime's appearance. Yukina's crimson eyes were red and puffy around the edges, and her face was tear-streaked. She sniffled. "I'm sorry, Yuusuke-san. I wish you didn't have to see me like this. I just—" Her lower lip trembled, and the tears brimming in her eyes spilled over, clinking to join the pile of hiruseki already pooled in her lap. "I miss Kazuma-san!" She sobbed, startling Yuusuke by throwing her arms around him and starting to cry again.

Yuusuke held her, feeling slightly awkward. It was Kurama who was good at comforting, not him. He cast a glance at the sleeping redhead, debating whether or not to wake him. He decided not to. Kurama needed the rest. He had been awake the night before, offering consoling words to the girls after Botan's death. Gently, he rubbed Yukina's back, mumbling words he hoped were soothing. After what seemed like ages, Yukina's sobbing died down, and she lay in Yuusuke's arms, sniffling occasionally and clinging to him.

Slowly, he pried her arms from around his neck and tucked her back into the covers. "Get some sleep, Yukina. It'll be better in the morning."

"I loved him so much, Yuusuke-san. Shizuru, too. What will I do without them?" She whispered.

Without thinking, he leaned down and dropped a light kiss to her forehead. Kurama had done that for him, Yuusuke remembered, when Genkai had died and he had been up crying. The light contact had helped him, let him know that he wasn't alone. It seemed to help Yukina now, and her lips curled into a small smile as she fell asleep. Yuusuke stayed with her for a few moments, gently brushing her hair with his fingers. Finally, he stood up, by Keiko's bed to look down at her. The brunette's chest rose and fell with her breathing, and he leaned down, kissing her gently. "I love you, Kei." He whispered to her. She murmured something in her sleep and rolled over. He pulled the blanket around her and went back to his own bed, and after several fitful minutes, fell asleep.


It was soft voices that woke him, only a few hours later. He recognized them immediately, Kurama and Hiei. Yuusuke shrugged it off as Kurama trying to wake the fire demon, and decided to go back to sleep.

"—who's going to be next?"

That statement brought awareness back to him like a bucket of cold water. Knowing the demons would break off their conversation if they knew he was awake, he kept his breathing deep and regular, and opened his eyes just a crack.

Kurama was sitting up in his bed, Hiei perched on the edge with his legs dangling. It was Kurama who had spoken last, and Hiei seemed to be contemplating an answer.

Hiei spoke after a moment. "I don't know who's going to be next. All I know is that it's not going to be pretty."

Kurama shifted slightly. "That much is obvious. I assume you're going to keep a close watch on Yukina."

"Hn." Hiei grunted an affirmative. Kurama started to say something, but hesitated. Hiei caught the pause. "What is it?"

"Well…I was just thinking…" the redhead bit his lip before continuing. "Yukina has been the first one to alert us to both murders. I was thinking that maybe—"

Hiei's eyes flared. "You can't be suggesting—"

"It was just a thought, Hiei, but you have to admit that it's possible!" Kurama interrupted. "Koorime are not known for being peaceful creatures. You know that when they're angered, their kills are thorough and horrible."

Hiei opened his mouth, and then closed it. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "Kurama, you and I both know that Yukina would never kill unless in self-defense. What motive would she possibly have to kill them?"

Kurama shrugged. "I'm just being open to ideas, Hiei. I don't see you offering any ideas."

"Yuusuke."

Yuusuke tried not to choke, and then realized the demon was talking about him, not to him. 'Not that that's much of an improvement.' He thought. It wouldn't do him any good if the two demons were against him.

Kurama seemed to share his opinion, and frowned. "You think it's Yuusuke?"

Hiei nodded. "He's been acting a bit too—devastated. It's not like him."

The redhead's frown deepened. "Don't you remember when Genkai died? He was this upset then. He cried the entire night."

"Until you stepped in and did a little comforting. Did you really kiss him, or was that just my imagination?"

A light flush touched Kurama's cheeks. "That was completely platonic and you know it, Hiei! He needed it, that night."

Hiei shrugged. "Whatever you say. All I'm saying is that you've been awfully close with him the last couple of days, as well—"

Kurama reached out and took Hiei's hands. "Listen to me;" he whispered. "I love you."

Yuusuke tried to keep his eyes from widening.

Hiei did the same, but failed. "Kurama;" was all he said, closing his hands around Kurama's.

Kurama didn't acknowledge the movement, just looked Hiei straight in the eyes. "I love you;" he repeated. "And no one—not Yuusuke or anyone else—is going to change that."

Hiei opened his mouth to retort, but Kurama cut him off. "Yes, I love Yuusuke." Hiei gaped. "But not in that way. I love Yuusuke the same way I love Yukina, and Keiko, and everyone else. The way I love you is…I don't know, different. I can't…" He released Hiei's hands and ran a hand through his hair. "I can't even explain it. I just—" Hiei stopped him in mid-sentence by kissing him.

Yuusuke closed his eyes until he heard them part. Cracking an eye open, he saw that their position had changed. Hiei had taken Kurama's spot, and held Kurama gently, the redhead's head and shoulders cradled in Hiei's lap. Hiei's hands ran though Kurama's hair. "Kurama;" Hiei said quietly.

"Mm-hm?"

"You never told me who you thought the killer was."

Kurama shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. But Hiei?"

"Hn?"

"Can you do me a favor?"

Hiei raised one eyebrow.

"Can you honestly tell me that it isn't you?"

"You trust me, don't you?"

"Of course."

"Then no. It isn't me. I don't have any proof for you, Kurama. Just my word. Is that good enough for you?"

Kurama smiled. "Of course."

Hiei leaned down and kissed Kurama again. Yuusuke closed his eyes, but allowed a smile to curve his "sleeping" lips. At least something good had come from this.


Yuusuke wasn't sure what woke him the third time. He sat up and looked around the room. Keiko was asleep, snuggled into a cocoon of blankets. Hiei was still in Kurama's bed, curled around Kurama's sleeping body. Smiling slightly at the idea of the broody fire demon being so caring, he turned to check on Yukina.

His heart dropped into his stomach.

Her bed was empty.

Yuusuke whirled around and grabbed Hiei's shoulder, shaking the fire demon awake and jostling Kurama into consciousness in the process. Hiei glared up at him. "What?"

"Yukina's gone."

The color drained from Hiei's face and he scrambled over Kurama's body, pulling on his boots and setting off at a dead run for the door.

"Hiei—wait—Dammit!" Forgetting his shoes, Kurama dashed outside after Hiei. Yuusuke groaned and hurried after them, dimly aware of Keiko's groggy-sounding "what's going on?" behind him.

Outside, he found Hiei looking around. A light rain had begun during the night, and the fire demon's clothes were quickly soaked through.

Yuusuke stopped beside him. "Maybe we should split up and look for—"

"Absolutely not." Hiei interrupted.

Kurama nodded. "Hiei's right, Yuusuke. Splitting up wouldn't be intelligent."

Hiei blinked, as if noticing Kurama's presence for the first time. He frowned. "Kurama, where are your shoes?"

Kurama waved the question off. "Not important. Come on, if we're going to find her, we're going together." He looked at Yuusuke. "Any ideas?"

Yuusuke bit his lip. "Maybe…the oak tree? That's where we found the…the others."

"Worth a try;" Hiei grunted, and flitted off.

"That was not what I meant by stay together;" Kurama muttered, grabbing Yuusuke's arm and taking off after Hiei.

Hiei came into view before Yukina did. He stood, body rigid, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Yuusuke couldn't blame him.

Yukina's body lay at the base of the tree, naked, her pale blue yukata tucked under her head like a pillow, a sick impersonation of tenderness. Symbols had been carved into her skin, arranged in what Yuusuke recognized as—

"Paralyzing wards;" he said in horrorstruck awe. "The bastard carved wards onto her body…" He had heard of such things from Kurama and Hiei. Setting demon wards directly onto the flesh was one of the most extreme forms of torture used in Makai.

Kurama's hand slipped from Yuusuke's arm to hang limply by his side. "By all the gods;" he whispered, his voice sounding choked.

Yuusuke looked at him in alarm—Kurama's skin was unnaturally pale. "Kurama?"

"I think I'm going to be sick;" Kurama managed to get out, before doubling over and retching. Yuusuke held Kurama's long hair out of the way, gently rubbing the redhead's back while Kurama struggled to take in air. Finally, breathing heavily, Kurama swayed, tipping into Yuusuke's arms. Yuusuke lowered him gently to the ground away from the mess, stroking Kurama's hair off his face.

Kurama shook his head, pushed himself out of Yuusuke's arms and going to Hiei. The fire demon had yet to move, still staring at his sister's body. Gently, Kurama touched his arm. "Hiei?"

Hiei looked at him with dead, emotionless eyes. "She knew not to go outside alone;" he said, voice hoarse. "She didn't go outside alone. Someone went with her." He jerked away from Kurama's touch. "Someone she trusted. I'm going to find out who if it kills me."

Kurama reached out for him. "Hiei, please—"

The smaller demon shot him a deadly glare and blurred out of sight.

Heaving a sigh, Kurama raised a hand over his eyes. Yuusuke put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Kurama gave him a bitter smile. "Are any of us alright, Yuusuke?"

Yuusuke shrugged. "Thought I'd ask."

The redhead's smile gentled and faded. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to lash out at you, really."

Yuusuke nodded. "I know." He peered around. "Where did Hiei go? It's not like he could get far with the barrier."

Kurama shrugged. "He's probably just running circles. It relieves stress for him, I suppose." He took a deep breath and went to Yukina's body, kneeling down.

Yuusuke looked down, swallowing hard.

The youko scanned the body, a look of confusion crossing his face. "That's strange…"

"What?"

"Wards alone wouldn't have killed her." Kurama frowned. "I wonder if…" Gingerly, he slipped an arm under her body and turned it over. "Ah. I see."

Yuusuke knelt next to Kurama. "What?"

Kurama pointed, and Yuusuke saw a small cut, about the width of a knife blade, just below her left shoulder blade. "Straight up and through the heart. It was quick."

Yuusuke frowned. "That's new. The rest of the kills were…" He shuddered. "…You know."

Kurama nodded. "Yes, I know." He looked down at the body, rolling Yukina back onto her back. He pulled off his sweatshirt and tucked it around her body, reaching out to close her wide, staring eyes. "Yukina had her fair share of suffering. Demon wards are a very painful matter."

Yuusuke remembered Kurama's fights with Gama and Touya, and the look of pain on the redhead's face. He changed the subject. "What should we do with…"

Kurama bit his lip. "I'll stay with her until Hiei comes back. I think he should be the one to decide." He looked at Yuusuke. "You go inside. You need to tell Keiko."

The younger boy groaned, but nodded. "Alright." He squeezed Kurama's shoulder one last time, and went inside.


Keiko dissolved into tears the moment Yuusuke entered the cabin. She launched herself into his arms, sobbing. "Tell me. Tell me who it is this time."

He held her, unable to speak for a moment.

She pulled away, tear-streaked face looking up at him. "Tell me who, Yuusuke!"

"Yukina." Unshed tears that he had been holding back spilled over, and he pulled her to him, gentler than he wished he could, for fear of breaking her in half. "I'm sorry, Keiko;" he whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry."

She clung to him, her face buried in his chest, and he only barely caught her whispered "I'm sorry, too."


Kurama nearly jumped out of his skin when Hiei dropped his cloak unceremoniously around his shoulders. Forcing his breathing under control, he said; "Hiei?"

The fire demon sat down cross-legged beside him. "You'll catch a chill in just a shirt, Kurama." He gazed at Yukina's body, then reached out and gently ran his fingers through her hair before jerking his hand back. "Kurama?"

"What is it?"

"Am I…a horrible person?"

Kurama looked at him in surprise. "Of course you're not, Hiei. Why on earth would you ask something like that?"

"Because, when I came out, and I saw her…" He looked at Kurama, and Kurama gasped. Hiei's eyes were brimming with tears as he continued. "…I was just…" He reached out, pulling Kurama against his chest and speaking into Kurama's hair, pressing his lips into the crimson strands. "I was just so glad it wasn't you. My own sister, and I was thankful it wasn't you."

Kurama pulled away, gently cupping Hiei's face between his hands. "You are not a horrible person." He pulled the demon into his arms, and Hiei rested his head against Kurama's shoulder. Kurama leaned down, kissing Hiei's forehead. "You're not a horrible person." He whispered again. "I love you. So much."

Hiei nodded against Kurama's shoulder, his fingers digging into the youko's shirt. "I know."

"What do you want to do with the body?" Kurama's question startled Hiei. He looked up at the redhead.

Kurama didn't meet his eyes. "It's up to you;" he said, staring off into space.

Hiei closed his eyes. "Later." He said.

Kurama nodded. His fingers stroked through Hiei's hair absently. "Whatever you want."

"Kurama?"

"What is it?"

"Promise me…you won't die."

Kurama's fingers stilled in Hiei's hair. "You know I can't promise that."

Hiei opened his eyes, looked up at Kurama, then closed them again. "I thought I'd ask."

Kurama's tone, when he next spoke, was gentle. "But I'll do my best."


Yikes. Sorry for the long wait. This fic is harder to write than I thought it would be. I hope you can forgive me.

There are two more chapters to come after this, and then an epilogue if enough people want one.

Reviewer Responses:

Eveligne: Well, it's supposed to be morbid. That's why it's under "horror". But I guess it's a good thing that you think it's morbid—I was worried I wouldn't be very good at the whole horror-fic-thing. I'm glad you enjoyed it…although I don't really know WHY people enjoy reading this kind of thing…it depresses the hell out of me.

Princess Rin: Botan…YES! Heh. As horrible as it is for me to say, I really enjoyed killing her off…she annoys me. A lot. Here's your update. Not any happier, unfortunately.

Lady Starlight2: Well, good guess on who died next. Kudos, girl. But as for who the killer is…I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU! THAT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF A MURDER MYSTERY! Hehehe. Suspense is good for the soul. So are updates.

Jessica: Not as quick an update as I'm sure you were hoping for, but…well, here you go. I'm glad you liked it.

godssentangel: Well, there's some Hiei/Kurama for you. Although they haven't died yet. Hooray! I'm putting off killing them because I love those two…And as for worrying about it…how do you know one of them isn't the killer? (suspense, suspense)

Princess Rin: …didn't I do this already? Wow. WOW. Run-on sentence right there…Okay, let's see here. I'm glad you like the title. It just sort of popped into my head…I'm still working on what it has to do with the fic itself. As for Hiei being a…what was it that you said? "Back stabbing traitor", I believe? Well, that's to be shown, isn't it?

Twilight's Shadow: Yep, you're definitely a sugar person. I can totally relate to that. So, yeah, they died. Insert sobbing here. I like Shizuru and Kuwabara well enough, but hey, someone had to die in that chapter and Shizuru decided to run herself into the barrier. It was her fault, not mine. (grin) Why did you get in trouble for trying to read this? There's nothing really bad in it…okay, it's gruesome, but nothing you wouldn't find in a PG-13 movie. I'm glad I made your day. Aw, you like my name too? Thankies!

AnimeWarriorGirl: Wow, don't you pay a pretty compliment. I'm blushing over here. I'm sure you're a great writer, too. You just keep practicing, and you get better with time. As for Kurama-chan…we'll see. But you do realize that if he DOESN'T die, that means he's the killer, right?

theamazinghollowgirl: Yeah…the murder descriptions are graphic. I'm cringing writing them just as much as you're cringing reading them, trust me. I'm glad you like it, here's an update.

NightRain: Yes…it's sad…trust me, I'm depressed too. At least this chapter had a bit of fluffyness in it…

SunStar Kitsune: Well…yeah. It is a pretty sad and sadistic way to die…and yeah, she's in Reikai. Chillin' wit da ghosts, ya'll. As for who'll be the last to live…you'll have to read and find out!

KyoHanna: "Ten Little Indians"? I don't think I've ever heard of it…I think I'll go check it out. Don't worry, I fully intend to finish this fic, merely because I know you guys'll go crazy and kill me if I don't. I'm happy you like it so much. (wipes a tear) I love it when people like my stuff…

Angelkitsune: Ah! Not the hyper side! (laughs) Just kidding. I'm flattered that you like it so much. As for reading it in the dark at midnight…that would scare the crap out of me. But I'm a wimp. It's a wonder I'm reading this, let alone WRITING it.

Okay, I'll do my best to get an update up with less of a wait then last time. Once again, sorry this took so long. (bows) Until next time, everyone!