Author's Note: Hi everybody! Well, this is the fourth chapter. I haven't gotten a lot of reviews, so I must ask you to please take thirty seconds and tell me how you like it. I need the opinions so that I can improve my writing. Thanks so much! Ok, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Kurama ran. He didn't know where he was going, but fear and regret drove him on. He plunged into the forest that surrounded Genkai's temple, the sticks and rocks tearing up the fox's bare feet. Branches whipped by, covering him with a thousand scratches, but he did not feel the pain. Only one thought raced through his head.

Yukina's gone, her soul was taken, and it's your fault.

Despite himself, Kurama kept the bag of soul gems clutched tightly in his hand. Though he hated them, he knew that they were the only hope he had of saving K'Ray. He also knew he had to run, to run until he was so far away his friends couldn't find him, couldn't blame him. He had to run so that their souls wouldn't be taken.

So he did.

Dawn broke, cold and dreary. Hiei stalked down the hall toward Kurama's room, brooding. He hadn't spoken to his friend since he had given him the drugged tea. Knowing Kurama, that baka kitsune was probably still blaming himself. Hn. That was just like him. He couldn't stand the thought of someone else taking the blame. No, he had to carry everyone's burdens on his own shoulders.

Baka.

Without knocking, Hiei slid open the shoji, peering inside. The room looked like it had been torn apart by a tornado, everything thrown around in disorder.

Kurama was gone.

And Yukina was there.

Hiei darted to his sister's side. She was lying there, unmoving, her beautiful crimson eyes, so much like Hiei's and yet so different, staring up at the ceiling. Her skin was cold to the touch. Panicked, Hiei tore of his bandanna, desperately looking for his sister's life force.

It was gone. Her soul had been taken.

Hiei forced himself to calm down. Yukina wasn't dead; she was in limbo. Her body could live for a little longer, but she needed her soul back, soon. The fire demon picked up Yukina's still body, placing it gently on Kurama's abandoned futon. He brushed some stray hair away from her face, shaking his head.

"I'll find you again, Yukina. I promise as your brother."

Kurama sat against a towering oak, exhausted. He had run straight through the night, until his bloodied legs had given out beneath him. He now stared down at the soul gems, a mixture of loathing and hope battling within him. He didn't touch the diamond; if he did, he could feel Yukina, and it was just too much. With a sigh, he picked up each of the other gems, instinctually knowing which one was for whom.

The topaz. Honesty, which was Kuwabara, of course.

The amethyst. Wisdom, obviously Genkai's.

The ruby. Bravery, Yusuke's greatest trait.

The sapphire. Love, Kayko's gift.

The onyx. Loyalty, which was naturally Hiei's.

Kurama knew what would have been his gem. The emerald, for compassion. He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Compassion as Yoko Kurama's greatest trait? The ironies never ceased, did they?

Kurama's thoughts strayed to the man from his dreams. They don't really care about you. That was what he had said. The fox recalled many things his friends had said to him.

"Oh, you're here, Kurama. Too bad, it was quiet with you gone!"

"I've got to tell you, we have much more fun without you then we ever had with you."

"It's cool when you leave, Kurama. It's so boring with you here."

Kurama knew that all those comments had been jokes, and he didn't take any major offense, but still, he couldn't help wondering how much he truly meant to his friends. Many times he had thought that they would be better off without him. But he couldn't leave. Even if they didn't care for him, he cared for them, and it would hurt too much to leave.

"But it hurts to stay, too," Kurama said out loud.

Suddenly, Kurama felt three very familiar kis coming closer. He stiffened, panic choking his heart. They couldn't come, not now! Their souls would be taken!

Kurama leaped up, ignoring the cramps that seized his legs. He took a shaky breath, making a point to drop the bag of soul gems into his pocket, where he held a hand over them. They wouldn't claim another friend.

Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara appeared at the edge of the clearing.

"Stop!" Kurama shouted. "Don't come any closer!" The three detectives froze, apprehensive.

"Kurama, what happened?" Yusuke asked. He took a step forward.

"No!" Kurama yelled. "Stay back!" He frantically scrambled backwards, trying to put as much distance between himself and his friends as possible. Yusuke stopped again, frowning in worry.

"What's gotten into you, Kurama?" Kuwabara asked.

Say a word and K'Ray dies.

Kurama started. That voice had been the man from his dream. Instantly, he knew his name; Matsuji. A name to match the voice. Oddly, it fit.

"So, you can talk to me now?" Kurama whispered.

Oh, yes. I know everything you do, Kurama. And if you value K'Ray's life, you won't say a word about this to your 'friends.'

"Fine," Kurama replied.

Good boy.

"Kurama?" Yusuke asked again. Kurama shook his head fervently.

"Don't come near me," he pleaded. "Please, don't."

Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei exchanged glances. They didn't know what had gotten into Kurama, but it must be involved with those dreams.

"Kurama, the dreams aren't real," Hiei said. "Walk away from them."

"No!" Kurama insisted. "They are real. I-"

Suddenly, a burning pain exploded in his chest. Far away, he heard someone scream…

If you want to see her alive again, shut up.

Kurama fell against the tree behind him, breathing heavily. He clutched at his chest, where the pain was eating away at him. Looking down, he saw a dark patch of blood blossoming beneath his shaking hand.

"Kurama!" his friends yelled. They moved forward.

"No!" Kurama screamed. "Please, no!"

But it was too late. Kuwabara, who was in the lead, froze. His hands grabbed at his chest, where a sliver orb appeared.

"No," Kurama sobbed, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. "No, no, no…"

The topaz, still in the fox's pocket, glowed fiercely. Kuwabara's soul floated over and was absorbed into the pulsing gem. Kuwabara's large form collapsed, hitting the ground with a thud. The other two boys halted in shock, their eyes wide. Kurama stumbled back, putting more distance between them.

"Kuwabara!" Yusuke cried. He fell to his knees beside his rival and friend, gazing down at his still body. Suddenly, his head snapped back up, anger burning in his eyes.

"What did you do?" he accused hysterically, pointing a shaking finger in Kurama's direction. "What the HECK did you do?"

Kurama crumpled to the ground, his hand and sleeve now soaked with blood. He was shocked and hurt at the fury in Yusuke's voice, but in the back of his mind he understood.

"I don't know," he finally replied, his voice shaky. "It happened to-to Yukina, too."

Now Hiei looked at his friend with suspicion. "Yukina?" he asked, his voice growing cold. "You did this to Yukina, too?"

"I didn't know what to do," Kurama said quietly. He was growing weak with blood loss. The fire in his chest continued to burn.

"We were worried about you!" Yusuke shouted. "We were scared for you! We thought you had been taken, but no! Instead, you're going around and stealing souls!" Yusuke suddenly stopped in his ranting. His eyes narrowed. "You're doing this to save K'Ray, huh?" he asked ominously. "Aren't you? The moment some pretty face from your past turns around, we have to sacrifice our lives just so you can feel better about yourself! Isn't that right, Kurama?"

Kurama flinched at his friend's hostility. Tears fell unchecked onto his chest wound, causing even more pain. The world spun, and Kurama fought to stay conscious.

"You don't understand," he said breathlessly. "I would never-"

"Right, Kurama," Hiei suddenly interrupted. "You would never. You would never betray us, never hurt us, and never cause us pain or worry." The fire demon thrust his katana into a nearby tree, cold fury making his movements rigid. "We've heard it before. But considering your past, should we really believe you?"

Kurama was shocked. Never would he have imagined his friends turning on him like this.

That's right, Kurama. They never truly cared. You're just the scapegoat for them. Matsuji's voice was soft, almost friendly. Come to me. Join me, be reunited with K'Ray, and get your revenge on these traitors.

"No," Kurama whispered. "Not my friends. They're just upset. They don't truly understand what they're saying…"

Of course they do. They blame you.

Kurama's vision blurred. He locked gazes with Hiei, his eyes shining with even more tears.

"Would you really do that, Hiei?" Kurama asked. "After all we've been through, would you truly believe that I've lied to you?"

"I don't know what to believe," Hiei replied. "Not anymore. How could you, Kurama? Does she really mean that much to you, that you would betray us?"

Kurama grimaced. "So that's it, then?" he asked, his voice hoarse with pain. "You'll lose faith in me that easily? Maybe Matsuji is right. You don't care about me. If you did, you would have never blamed this on me."

How true, Kurama. All you ever were was an outlet for their frustration. The continual jokes, teasing, it was all because they enjoyed hurting you. Come, join me. Save yourself from the pain compassion creates and turn your back on them.

Kurama was ready to deny it, to defend his friends once again, even if they had so obviously turned on him. But Hiei's next comment changed everything.

"Maybe we don't care, Kurama." The fox's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the fire demon. Hiei had always believed in being honest. Here it was. "We've always shown concern for you, put up with your problems, let you play the victim to your past. We never let you suffer alone. No, we stayed behind you, even if it meant putting aside our pain. Well, no more. You have to choose, Kurama. Your past or us? And believe me," Hiei snapped, "I don't care either way. We would be just as fine without you."

Kurama felt as if his very soul was being torn apart. This couldn't be happening. They wouldn't abandon him, not now. They wouldn't turn on him because of something that wasn't truly his fault. But in his now broken heart, he knew. They had been pushed to this because of him. Him and his past. Maybe he had been the victim, but it was no choice of his own. Couldn't they see that?

Come to me, Kurama. Leave them. They hate you. Come and be with K'Ray. She truly loves you. Come and help me destroy those who oppose us.

The look Kurama fixed on Hiei and Yusuke was an utterly broken, agonized gaze. He shook his head, tears coursing down his face. "Fine. I loved you as a brother, but you obviously don't care for me. You won't care if I left, then." Kurama staggered back, picking up the soul gems he had dropped. In a louder voice, he said, "Matsuji, I'll come. Take me to K'Ray, and I will serve you."

Excellent choice, Kurama. I'm proud of you.

A smoky portal appeared to Kurama's side. He couldn't see what was beyond it, but he knew K'Ray was there. He turned one last time, gazing back at his friends. No, Kurama thought, no longer my friends. My enemies.

"Kurama, wait!" Yusuke yelled, but it was too late. Kurama stepped through the portal. It closed behind him, as silently as if the betrayal, Hiei and Yusuke's betrayal of Kurama's friendship, had never happened. Yusuke ran over to where the portal had been.

There, on the ground, were the topaz and diamond. Had Kurama deliberately dropped them, or was it an accident? Yusuke picked them up, turning back to Hiei.

"He's gone," he said. "He's gone."

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Well, how'd you like it? Sad, I know. As you can obviously tell, I hold friendship in very, very high regard. Nothing is more important than the people you love! Please, please, PLEASE review! I need a self-esteem boost! All righty, well, until next time, see ya!