Reunited?
Slowly waking up, Kurama opened his eyes and found that he was snuggled up in Karasu's arms. Oh yeah…now I remember… That was definitely enjoyable… Well there's no point in getting up, not when I'm so comfortable like this… Sighing gently, he settled back down into the warmth of Karasu's embrace, but just as sleep was upon him, he suddenly felt Yusuke and the other's energy. Startled, he shot up, waking Karasu in the process.
"Something wrong Kurama…?" Karasu asked tiredly forcing himself to sit up.
"I-I just felt their energy…" Kurama replied, slightly taken aback.
"The Tantei's…?"
"Yeah, they're close…they'll probably reach the cave's entrance in about an hour at the latest…"
Laying a reassuring hand on Kurama's shoulder, Karasu spoke, "Don't worry about it, at least this way you can go back home…" he muttered, the final words almost catching in his suddenly tightened throat.
"I don't want to go back to their lies and deceit, I'd much rather stay here…"
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"We should confront them head on outside the cave and I'll tell them how I feel, simple as that," Kurama answered, shrugging.
"From what I saw at the tournament, they won't give up that easily and they'll probably say that I brain-washed you or something…"
"That I know, but when they realize that I really mean to stay here, it'll only make it better. Now c'mon, stop sulking, you definitely weren't like this last night…and you don't have to worry, I'm not leaving."
"That's what you say now…" Karasu murmured, his depression from the previous day threatening to take over.
"That's what I say now and forever, so shut up," Kurama retaliated, pushing him down into a passionate kiss that further proved his point.
"All right, I'll believe you, but I don't think we should meet them covered in dry sweat from last night's 'events'…"
"I agree, we'll take a bath, eat something and wait for their arrival, how does that sound?"
"Perfect."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"We're really close, aren't we?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes, only about another mile and a half or so until we reach our destination…" Hiei answered his tone much different from the previous days; it was now filled with renewed hope.
"This is awesome, he's still alive I can easily feel his energy now…I don't know how he did it, but he's lasted with that freak…" Kuwabara said, also in high spirits.
"Nah, I bet he killed the bastard, seems more like what Kurama would do," Yusuke joked, relief washing over him at the feeling of Kurama's energy.
I hope so…or else something else has happened to allow him to survive… Hiei thought, the mention of Karasu bringing him back to reality. In about an hour's time, they finally spotted their lost comrade.
"KURAMA! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Yusuke shouted out in pure joy as he ran headlong towards the solitary kitsune, the others following his lead, but when they got close enough to see his expression, it wasn't the one they were expecting. He was glaring coldly at them, hatred written clearly over his flawless face. Another thing surprising the Tantei other than his look was that his normally light hued clothing was replaced with all black making him seem frightfully ominous.
"Is something wrong Kurama…?" Kuwabara asked timidly, the fox's fiery expression slightly unnerving them all.
"Well other than being betrayed by so called allies and 'friends' no, I'm just fine," Kurama snapped.
"He isn't the same, that damn crow tainted him…he tried to cover it, but he still reeks of lust and sex…" Hiei scorned, anger running deep.
"Damn crow? Excuse me, but I do have a name little one…" Karasu drawled, appearing as if from only the shadows.
"Like we care, as I remember you're supposed to be rotting in hell jackass. And I'll be more than willing to put you back…after all, I killed Toguro, and he kicked your ass, so taking you down won't be a problem," Yusuke shot back, balling his hands into fists.
"Go ahead and try, but you'll have to get through me first Detective," Kurama said coldly.
"Kurama why in the hell are you protecting him! He nearly killed you!" Yusuke yelled, his anger rising quicker than ever.
"Well after you left me for dead he nursed me back to health. He could have killed me at anytime if that were truly what he still desired. Being that I'm standing in front of you, that obviously isn't what he wants anymore," Kurama pointed out frostily.
"Oh yes, why would he kill you when he could keep you as his toy instead?" Hiei remarked, causing the kitsune's cold stare to rest on him. "Your affection towards him would almost make sense if you still didn't hate him when we started this mission. I want the real reason for your sudden infatuation with this bastard Kurama," he demanded.
"Jealous are we? It must really irk you to know that we've slept together… Even if you've never mentioned anything to me, the look in your eyes tells volumes sometimes…"
"You're avoiding the question Kurama, why are you so suddenly drawn to a murderer that nearly took your life?"
"I already answered that, but I'll repeat it in simpler terms so that you understand. I like him and hate all of you because he saved me from obvious death when you were the ones who left me to that fate. That and the fact that didn't go near me until I gave him permission to… Now do all of you understand? You're not wanted here so just leave and never look back," Kurama said in departure, turning to leave himself.
"What about your mother Kurama? You know the one you nearly died for on more than one occasion? Or did you forget her during you heated passion last night?" Hiei asked his statement stopping Kurama dead in his tracks. "Oh, so you do remember her after all."
"If she ever knew what I really am, she wouldn't ever want to see me again, especially since I took away the son she deserved to have…" Kurama stated quietly.
"You replaced a worthless human who could never have saved her life like you did…are you really so sure that she would never want to see you again? I doubt it…"
"How could a heartless brat like you determine how she would react? You're the one who is so reluctant to tell Yukina the truth!" Kurama yelled out. Although he was expecting an explosion of anger from the small fire apparition, he did nothing but keep a steady gaze into Kurama's eyes.
"Well, now that you've gotten that out of your system, would come back to us?" Hiei asked patiently.
"You don't know how hard we've looked for you and how worried we've been Kurama… I know Shiori is worried sick over you too… Please, just come back," Yusuke pleaded.
"Why, so you can leave me to die again? Feh, I'm not falling for your falsehoods again…" Kurama scoffed, continuing to walk away.
"Figures you would walk away, being the coward that you are…" Hiei remarked to Kurama's retreating back. "Either that or you're dying to be a bitch for your lover boy again…" Please let this work…
"What did you say…?" Kurama demanded icily calm as he slowly turned around.
"You heard me, you're running away with your tail in between you legs," Hiei repeated and within a blink of an eye Kurama had grabbed him around the neck and had hoisted him into the air.
"Say that one more time runt and you will feel pain…" Kurama said mercilessly as he tightened his grasp on Hiei's neck.
"Coward," he breathed, already starting to choke. Provoked beyond anger's limit, Kurama lost himself and slammed the himiko into the ground. "Hn, about time you let go of me, it's too bad for you though I'm much faster than you…" Hiei smirked, flitting away before Kurama could grab him again.
"Bastard! Get back here!" Kurama shouted, fully enraged, sprinting after him.
'Yusuke, I'll lead him away, and I'll try to get him back to normal… In the mean time, go back to Ningenkai and tell his mother he's fine and will be home soon…'
'All right, if you say so…don't take too long, he's mom's bound to be half crazy with worry…'
'I'll take as long as is needed for him to return to himself…until then, could you stay with his mother if she allows you to?'
'Yeah, no problem, we'll be waiting for you two…' "Kuwabara, we're leaving," Yusuke said after his connection to Hiei had been broken.
"Why, shouldn't we wait for them to get back…?"
"Don't worry about that right now, it'll work out in the end, now c'mon," Yusuke urged.
"All right, but what about him…? Wait, where'd he go?" Kuwabara wondered.
"Who cares what that crow's up to, all we should care about is leaving, now c'mon already or I'll drag you!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Hiei get back here now!" Kurama yelled, starting to get winded after sprinting for about 20 miles straight.
"Getting tired kitsune?" Hiei asked mockingly, appearing in front of Kurama without warning, making him skid to a stop.
"Shut…up…" Kurama muttered, breathing heavily.
"So, are you ready to kill me as you said you were?" Hiei asked calmly, all mocking-ness gone from his voice.
"I never said kill…stop putting words in my mouth."
"You had the look of it in your eyes; I just translated it to that instead…" Hiei said, taking a step forward.
"Get away," Kurama said also taking a step, but backwards to distance himself from him.
"You seem frightened of me, why is that?"
"Get away from me!" he yelled, raising a barrier around himself to keep Hiei away.
"Something is seriously wrong with you…just tell me what it is…" Hiei said, walking up to the barrier's edge.
"Why would you care? I should be dead right now because of you…" he said weakly, falling to his knees, the barrier fading.
"Kurama…I care, more than you may know…let me help, you always did the same for me…" Hiei said gently, kneeling next to the fallen kitsune.
"I-I don't know who to trust anymore…one minute it seems like the truth and the next it feels like a lie and it keeps going back and forth… I'm sick of being confused…" Kurama murmured.
"What did he do to you to put you in such a state?"
"It isn't entirely his fault; you and the others are also to blame, leaving me like that… I didn't know what to do…I still don't…"
Taking a risk, Hiei did something he never had done before, but had seen others do in condolence to others. Slowly he put his arms around Kurama's shoulders and brought him close, hoping he was getting his message across. It seemed to have worked since Kurama turned and buried his face into his shoulder and wept silently. When he finally stopped, he didn't break away from the embrace.
"Feel any better…?" Hiei asked gently.
"A little, yes…" Kurama replied softly.
"Take as long as you need, I'll be here for you…"
"Thank…you…" he murmured, slowly slipping into sleep.
I should've known, I knew he couldn't have been telling the truth earlier… It was fun while it lasted I guess… The best thing for him is to never see me again, so that's how it'll be…just a bad memory to shudder at… He has everything he needs with his friends and family… I don't mean a thing…I never have and never will… Karasu thought. Looking down on the scene before him, he felt worthless and depressed, he departed as silently as he had came, leaving no trace.
Its all so sad...and yet somewhat happy... I'm sure you can feel the tug of an ending, as the next chapter shall be the final one. Tear, ne? All I can say is that I hope Karasu doesn't do something too rash because of his depression...oops, was that foreshadowing? lol. You'll just have to read the next and final chapter to find out! Please review!