Chapter Vierundzwanzig
"Kurama should have been here by now." Yusuke growled darkly, "Something must have happened to him."
"Well, what should we do?" Kuwabara asked boredly and leaned back against the wall. "I wouldn't worry about it, Kurama knows what he's doing. He'll get Botan and the pacifier."
"Yeah I guess. But why did we have to wait here for him, I think it would have been easier to go together." Yusuke grumbled.
"Let's give him another hour, if he doesn't come back then we can go after him."
"Ooh, my head, what happened?" Kurama blinked his eyes open slowly and sat up slowly only to be yanked back down
"Well hello, old friend." Hiei growled, "You happy? You got what you wanted."
"I-I did?" Kurama brought a hand to his forehead and winced, "Hiei what are you talking about, Where is Botan?"
"AH, now you care. It's a little too late for that." Hiei hissed venomously, "I don't know what happened to you back there or whatever darkness they put you through, but it was no excuse."
"Hiei, Tell me what happened to Botan!" Kurama spoke seriously
"Now, now, boys there is no need for yelling." Botan walked in with a tray of warm tea and alcohol for Kurama's cut. "Hiei are you teasing poor little Kurama?" she smiled as she sat next to the red head on the bed.
"Botan, You're okay! Thank god." Kurama spoke but hissed as Botan dabbed at the cut on his neck.
"Hiei, you are so lucky you didn't hurt him too bad."
"Yeah, and what about what he did to me?" Hiei pouted at not getting any attention.
"I thought you didn't need anyone to take care of you. But if you would like me to dress your wounds all you have to do is ask." Botan winked
"B-Botan I…" Kurama started slowly
"Drink." Botan ordered as she handed Kurama the cup of tea. Then she turned her attention to Hiei again. "Well?"
"Hn." Hiei looked away slowly trying to hide the tinge of pink on his cheeks. "Woman you are insufferable." He said darkly and stood up walking out of the room.
"He loves me." she smiled to herself and took the cup from Kurama. "How are you feeling?"
"Why are you taking care of me? I tried to kill you and Hiei and almost succeeded."
"Kurama, you are still our friend. Besides we know what happened."
"Y-You do?"
"Yeah, You see after you passed out Hiei went into your head." Botan shivered as she remembered the way Hiei described it. "About your nightmare and memories. Usually you hide your thoughts but something deep down didn't want to hide what happened to you so we were able to find the truth."
"I see." Kurama turned his head away. He remembered all too well the torture he was put through. "But how did you get the poison out?"
"Well, you see, Touya took some of your blood so he could test the poison and worked out an antidote from there. Kurama, do you always ask all these questions?"
"Yes, I have one more." Kurama smiled, "How did you make it out? I know what those seeds can do."
"That's a story for another time. You Just rest now, okay?" Botan covered him up lightly and walked out. "You need anything you just call."
"Hai, thank you." Kurama fell back onto his pillow and stared at the ceiling. Visions of what had happened earlier swirled in the back of his head, before his heart and into his soul. Karasu still haunted him even in death. He sighed and buried it deep within him as with every other painful memory.
"Don't be so mad, Hiei. Kurama is still our friend." Botan sat across from him at the table. "Look, I think its time we found Yusuke and Kuwabara and helped them like we did Kurama. At least we now know how to reverse the affects of the poison."
"Onna, Please shut up, for once in your life." Hiei spat. "You think it will be that easy for us to storm in there and take back our friends?"
"He has a point, I mean even if we found Yusuke and Kuwabara they will try and fight us." Touya added.
"I know of a way." Came a voice from behind them.
"Kurama? I told you to get some rest." Botan frowned.
"I'm in no need of rest. The only way to get in there is to be captured."
"Oh smart one, Kurama. Have you gone Bonkers? If we are captured then we will be surrounded, they'll kill us mate." Chu said
"I have a plan." Kurama smirked