Author's Note: Hi everyone! It's been a really hectic week. I got sick. How sucky is that? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, cause I sure had a fun time writing it! I wanna shout out to my best pal Julz. Hope you like the story!

Ok, whenever there are italics, it's a dream Kurama's having.

All right, let's keep goin'!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

He had called her his Tombstone Rose, saying that she could bring beauty to the saddest of places. She had called him Yoko-kun, just because she knew he didn't like the name. He had raised her, taken her from the ruins of her past and given her a place to truly call home. She had taught him how to feel, and had gradually melted the ice surrounding his heart.

She loved him.

He loved her.

She was gone.

Kurama closed his eyes in despair. The dreams had been getting worse, and the exhaustion had taken their toll on the boy. What had started as a few silver strands of hair had become thick streaks, scattered throughout his fiery locks. His emerald eyes were flecked with gold, so much that the mixture was somewhat odd to look at. The fox could no longer go to school, not in this condition, but had instead holed up at Genkai's, telling his mother he was on a trip.

Kurama looked up from his book as someone knocked on the door. "Come in," he said. The door slid open to reveal Yusuke and Kuwabara. Kurama smiled, but inwardly he sighed. This isn't the best state for them to see me in, he thought.

"Yo, Kurama!" Yusuke greeted. "We wondered where you had disappeared to!" He threw himself down on Kurama's futon, feigning sleepiness.

"Hey, man, you don't look so good," Kuwabara observed. Kurama rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for telling me that," he smiled. In truth, he was happy to see his friends. It had been lonely at the temple with only Genkai to talk to. "I just haven't had a lot of sleep."

The fox stood up, moving over to a table to pour some tea. He sat down with his back against the wall. When he picked up his cup, however, his hands were shaking so badly he almost dropped it. Yusuke took it from him quickly, eyeing his friend with concern.

"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked. Kurama nodded firmly.

"I'm fine," he insisted.

"No, you're not," Yusuke argued. "Look at yourself! You're almost half Yoko already."

Kurama sighed, unable to combat his friend's logic. Yusuke cocked his head curiously, understanding that Kurama would need some time alone. With a subtle motion to Kuwabara, the detective and his friend quietly left the room.

Kurama heard them go, but didn't move. He was so tired. He had only gotten about two hours of sleep the past few nights. So tired…

"Hey, Hiei," Yusuke called. He was standing at the steps of Genkai's temple, just minutes after he and Kuwabara had left Kurama. Within seconds, the black robed fire demon was standing next to the boy.

"Yo man," Yusuke greeted. "Would you do me a favor?" Hiei glared at him, but nodded curtly. "Thanks," the boy said. "Will you watch over Kurama for me? I'm worried about Fox-boy."

Hiei nodded again before flitting off. Relieved, Yusuke and Kuwabara began to race down the steps, Kuwabara tripping halfway.

Hiei settled on a branch just outside Kurama's window. The boy had fallen asleep with his back against the wall, head down. Hiei shook his head, shifting into a more comfortable position. Baka kitsune, Hiei thought, He's always in trouble.

It was dark. Dark and cold. A chill wind forced its way through every crack in the stone walls, whistling shrilly. K'Ray, for Kurama knew it was K'Ray, was huddled in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around herself, trying to ward off the cold. Her tattered shirt and breeches did little to protect her. She shivered uncontrollably, her lips a faint blue…

Hiei jolted upright. Kurama was still asleep, but he was having a nightmare. Fists clenched, his head tossed from side to side. He muttered something, jerked sideways, and hit the wooden floor with a solid thump.

A door creaked, and K'Ray's head snapped up, muscles taut. A laugh even colder than the wind floated through the darkness. A tall, ominous figure entered the cell. K'Ray moved as if to get away, but the man was too fast. Quick as a snake, he grabbed her wrist, pinning the girl against the wall. K'Ray struggled, but to no avail. The man smiled evilly.

"Well, my pet," he sneered. "Are you ready to talk?"

"No!" K'Ray cried. She glared at him defiantly. "Leave me alone!" A cry of pain was heard as the man slapped her, hard…

Hiei darted into the room just as Kurama began thrashing about, his face contorted with pain and fear. His arm hit the table, causing it to tip over. Hot tea spilled across the floor, burning Kurama's side and leg. Hiei grabbed the boy, shaking him. Why wouldn't he wake up!

K'Ray slumped to the floor, angry tears welling in her violet eyes. She locked gazes with the man, hatred emanating from her very soul. The man laughed derisively.

"I'll be back later," he said, giving the girl a contemptuous, vicious kick. K'Ray gasped, clutching her ribs before crumpling into unconsciousness. The last thing she heard was the man's horrid laugh…

"Kurama!"

Kurama was shaken suddenly into awareness. He sat upright, not realizing where he was. He stared blankly around the room, his eyes finally settling on Hiei.

"H-Hiei," he choked out, before he, too, fainted.

Kurama woke up on his futon. That's strange, he mused. How did I get here? Suddenly, the dream came back to him. That cursed dream! It had been different this time, though…

The boy moved to get up, but found it hard to move his left leg. Looking down, he saw that both his leg and his side were tightly bandaged. Undoing the bandage, Kurama was surprised to see it burned.

"What is going on?" he thought. Standing up, he moved quietly over to the door. He heard his friends talking on the other side. Instead of joining them, he sat down next to the door, listening to the conversation.

"So, is he ok?" Yusuke asked.

"Yes, he'll be fine. The burns were superficial." That was Genkai.

"What I'm curious about is why he didn't wake up," Yukina remarked.

"Yeah, and have you noticed his eyes? They're completely amber now," Kuwabara put in. Kurama unconsciously brought his hand to his eyes.

"When I tried to wake him, I heard him talking in his sleep," Hiei said. "He kept repeating 'K'Ray.'"

"Interesting," Genkai said thoughtfully. "But the best thing for now would be to not mention anything about Kurama's dreams or appearance. We wouldn't want to excite him any more."

"You know, I think that Kurama believes the dreams are real," Yukina said. "I've seen how he broods after he wakes up."

"Wow. And I thought Fox-boy was smarter than that," Kuwabara said. A sharp retort was heard as Yusuke smacked him.

"He is smart, baka," the detective said. "Maybe it's just the stress of it that's making him believe it's true."

"Well, whatever it is, we should just act like nothing is wrong," Genkai advised. "He'll realize soon enough that it's only a dream."

Kurama leaned back against the wall, stunned. Did his friends think he was going mad? Would they really doubt him so easily?

A single tear slid down his cheek as his eyes closed once more.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Well, how'd ya like it? Please, please, please review! It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read this! Till next time, see ya!