A/N: Hello everyone. What's new? The reviews are really starting to add up. Thank you all. Here are the responses.

KaraKurama: Hello again. Thanks once again for reading and reviewing. I'm glad that you understand where I was going with the last two chapters. Of course I'll keep going. Hope you enjoy it.

Yami Yami Yugi: Hey! What up! I'm glad that you liked last chapter. Yes Yusuke is indeed no match for Raizen which means he is definitely no match for Karuru. I did indeed put some bloodshed in the last chapter. There might be even more in this one. Sakura is for bait to get Yusuke away from Raizen but I might even make it for another purpose. Kuronue is still under his control, which sucks, but I promise I'll snap him out of it pretty soon. I hope you like this chapter too.

Rurouni kitsune: Things are getting heated up now. Those two evil demons know exactly what buttons to push. True they have plenty of time to get back on top of things…. Or do they? Um… you'll just have to wait and see. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Bloom Flower: Hello again. Thanks for reading and reviewing again. Yeah the fighting came in fast. I knew I couldn't keep it out of the story. Glad you enjoyed last chapter and I hope you enjoy this one too.

Hiei's Dragon Girl 1: Hello again. Thanks for reading and reviewing again. No worries I'm not mad that you didn't review for a while. As long as you did now that's okay with me. That sucks that you aren't allowed on the computer a lot. Lol, you might wanna bring your eyes in… lol. I just had to have a little part of that in this fic. Thank you, I always try my best. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Not much to say but oh well. Thank you all again for reviewing. Here is chapter 45.

Broken free at last

Kurama cringed as he stood up and started running off. ' I'll get you back…. Nothing will prevent me from getting you back to normal….'

" KURAMA NO!" Everyone shouted as they started taking off after him.

Kururi smiled as he watched everything taking place. ' Perfect work my mind puppet. Now that the cats are away… I'm free to take out the rats.'

Yusuke and the others started off running after their friend. " Kurama wait! This could be another trap."

" I must do this Yusuke. No longer will Kuronue have to work for that freak of a master. My friend will be free from his control once and for all!"

" That might be what they want! They just want to lure you away."

" Don't tell me you don't want to rescue Sakura."

Yusuke narrowed his eyes and then sighed as he turned to Kuwabara and Hiei. " You two stay here… watch the others while we're gone." The spirit detective's two friends nodded as they watched he and Kurama rush off following the rail of Kuronue.

Kurama was deep in thought. ' When I looked into your eyes I didn't see my friend at all. It was like someone else was talking. You weren't my friend Kuronue at all. He wouldn't have tried to kill me for trying to help…. I just know it.'

Yusuke caught up with his kitsune friend. " Don't worry Kurama. We'll free Kuronue this time for sure."

Kurama nodded and smiled back at the younger boy. " We will indeed succeed this time." The kitsune sniffed around catching the sent of his friend again. " We're close. Kuronue is near by."

" What about those other demons? Karuru or Kururi?"

Kurama tool another sample of the hair. " I'm picking up various demon scents. However one new one has come in and I have a feeling that is Karuru's. Kuronue is near by and he has Sakura with him."

" Then lets get over there and pound the heck out of that demon!"

Meanwhile up in Karuru's castle Kuronue walked up with Sakura still on his shoulder. " Lord Karuru… I have brought the girl as you had requested."

Karuru smiled at his faithful follower. " Well done my faithful servant. With your efforts I will be able to get the greatest power. This girl is the key to my greatest desire."

Kuronue placed her unconscious on the floor. Karuru smirked as he leaned over and looked over the girl. " Yes indeed she is the one. Sakura is more important then anyone knows. No one will take her from my grasp. Make sure of that. Kill who ever dares to rescue her, understand my servant?"

Kuronue nodded his head. " Yes master. I will do all that is need to carry out your will." The Bat Youkai bowed to his master and started to walk out of the castle. He closed the door behind him and picked up his scythe. His eyes looked blood thirsty and really to kill for the man who used him as a puppet.

The Bat Youkai walked out of the palace to see his friend Kurama standing there. The kitsune's face was full of shock. " Kuronue…. Where is Sakura?"

" That's for me to know and you to find out fox. However, you won't have to worry about that because you'll be long since dead." Kuronue started to walk closer to Kurama, a wicked smirked was plastered on his face.

"Kuronue," he said in a low whisper, looking at his friend. "I don't want to do this but if you fight me, I will have no choice but to attack back."

Kuronue smirked. "All the more fun then." He leaped forward and Kurama easily dodged.

"I have no choice," he said to himself. "Rose whip!"

Kuronue looked unworried as he stared down his friend's and former partner's famous weapon. He unraveled his scythe and then wrapped it around the whip forcing it downward. " That all you have Kurama. Pity. I think you're just holding back. No matter…. I'll put an end to you!"

Kuronue pulled back the scythe and darted forward with his attack. Kurama's eyes widened at his speed and quickly leaped out of the way to avoid direct contact with the weapon. Regaining a grip on his Rose Whip he lashed it out, catching the chain of his opponents weapon as it was sent his way once more, resulting in a draw. Both demons pulled back and positioned themselves, preparing for the next attack.

Kuronue looked a bit annoyed. " Why won't you just die!" The mind controlled youkai smirked again as a thick fog started to form.

Kurama gasped as Kuronue disappeared in the mist. He whirled around, trying to find him, but there was no sign. Calming himself he closed his eyes, listening for his approach.

crack. swish!

He opened his eyes 'there!' he lashed out his rose whip and felt it come in contact with something. " Did I get him?"

"Not quite."

He looked behind him just in time to see the scythe flying towards him. The weapon cut Kurama in the chest making it bleed. The scythe came back around getting ready to strike again. This time Kurama weakly brought the weapon down. Kuronue started walking toward his ex friend.

" My my," he tsked shaking his head. " Honestly. I expected more from the great Yoko Kurama. It's no fun fighting someone who won't give it their all. I should just end this now."

Kurama bowed his head as some rogue tears flowed from his eyes. " Please listen to me Kuronue! They are using you... forcing you to do all this. I know you, you would never want to kill me. We are best friends! I want to help you..."

Kuronue paused for just a fraction of a second, emotion flickering in his eyes before they hardened once more. " Shut up!" he shouted. He lashed out with his scythe once more, catching it in Kurama's shoulder causing him to cry out and fall to the ground. " You are no friend of mine." he lifted the weapon up, ready to make the final strike.

" Kuronue please."

" Goodbye Kurama."

Kurama looked saddened that his friend was about to kill him. He pulled out his leaf he had taken from Kuronue's supposed death place. He held it close. " Kuronue...I promised I'd free you... and that's what I'm going to do!" He manipulated the leaf making it spread out like vines. They grabbed hold of the youkai and held him tightly in its hold up in the air. Yoko jumped on a pile of vines and floated up to Kuronue's level.

Kuronue, caught by surprise, struggled against the plant. He looked at Kurama who was now at his level. " So Kurama, are you going to kill me? I am your dear friend Kuronue after all."

Kurama glared at him. "You are not Kuronue. Kuronue would never attack me. He would never betray me. But I will get him back. You will not control him anymore."

The other demon smirked. " And just how do you plan to do that?"

Kurama smiled. " Anyone who knows me, knows my specialties. I can make plants into everything. And i figured out how you are controlling my friends mind!"

He glared at him. "Is that so? Care to enlighten me?"

Kurama folded his hands and stared into Kuronue's eyes. " I figured it out a while ago. First off I would like to point out the gases that you used to trap Kuronue and myself. That was the first step. The gases were a mixture of some powerful drugs used in the ningenkai. You corrupted Kuronue's mind with thoughts of betrayal and some various treats. When I broke free, I noticed that some of my special seeds were missing. Not may people were near by when I had them… I had then realized the second item used in your mind control. You used my parasite plants, and boiled it up… then using that as the base. The rest is simple. No doubt you have the ability to maniple people's minds. You used this advantage and in doing so took a strong hold in his mind."

Kurama took a break and pulled out a few seeds from his pocket. " In giving me enough time to figure it out, I remembered I had the antidote plant with me. So all I must do… I burn it…. And clear up Kuronue's breathing passages. Also… force him to take it orally. You're control over my friend ends here!"

Kuronue struggled to break free from the vines once again. Kurama narrowed his eyes and started to heat up the seeds. The kitsune forced the vines to hold him tighter so he couldn't move. Kuronue smelled the burning seeds and he started to feel a bit drowsy. Kurama smiled. ' It's working…' Kurama then made a crushed version and forced it down his friends throat.

Kuronue seemed to be suffocated by the antidote that Kurama had created. Kurama knew this was going to happen. Kururi was trying to maintain the control, even if that meant killing Kuronue in the process. The kitsune looked hopeful as his friend continued to suffer. ' That's it…. Fight him… I'm right here….'

Soon Kuronue's body fell limp. His head was bowed. Kurama looked very concerned. " Kuronue?" He questioned as he got closer. The kitsune started to fear the worst when he couldn't fell any energy from his partner and didn't even get a response. The fog started to clear and Yusuke looked up. Kurama placed his head on his chest and seemed to be crying. He had thought his friend was dead. " I'm sorry…" He muttered.

Yusuke's eyes started to shake. " Kurama…." He called out. The fox didn't hear him. The spirit detective frowned as he tried again speaking a bit louder. " Kurama." Once again Kurama didn't respond. Yusuke was very close to just shot a spirit gun in the air and shout at the top of his lungs. He growled and tried for a third time. " KURAMA!"

Without making a move Kurama spoke at last. " What is it Yusuke? I'd like to be left alone right now…."

" But… Kurama…." Yusuke didn't get to finish his sentence.

" I'd like a moment with my friend before I… put him to rest."

Yusuke raised an eye brow. ' Man Kurama is really dense when he's in a depression.'

" So you wanna get rid of me already?" Kuronue's voice suddenly became heard.

Kurama's eyes snapped open and he pulled back, his eyes full of tears. " Kuronue! You're back!"

Kuronue gave him a friendly smile. " I'm back for real this time. Thank you Kurama."

Kurama just cried harder and he wrapped his arms around his friend. " I missed you, you idiot."

Kuronue let out amused laugh. " And I missed you…. So wanna let me lose and fill me in?"

Kurama smirked and carefully brought them both down. " I'll fill you in on the way there…."

" Great."

Yusuke smiled. ' That's one crisis taken care of… now we just gotta take care of three more… this nightmare will be over soon…'

Meanwhile while the three of them were leaving Kururi felt his connection with Kuronue be severed. ' Darn it… That clever fox has found a way to break my hold of Kuronue. No matter… He out did his usefulness anyway, time for me to strike against the three kings…. With their numbers weakened this will be like taking candy from a baby.'

To be continued…

Hello everyone. This chapter was co authored by my pal, Yami Yami Yugi. So lets give her a hand. :claps.: Thanks again. It really helped me out with this chapter. Kuronue is finally free from Koruri's control after all this time. Wonder what that slim ball is going to do now? And what about Karuru? What's he going to do to Sakura? You wanna know? Well you're going to have to review and wait a bit. So please review. Till next time.

Trunks and goten