Author's Note: Hi everyone! Well, here we are with the fifth chapter. I'm having so much fun with this! Thanks to all my reviewers, especially Yuki Amida, Sesshy's Sweetheart, and Taisuke-chan.

Oh, here's a note: K'Ray and Kurama are the same age. Since demons age so much more slowly than humans, really she's sixteen, just like Kurama. Ok, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Kurama stepped through the portal into a broad, dark chamber. He couldn't see much in the dim light, and even that was diminished as the portal closed behind him. He looked down at the soul gems in his hand; he had dropped the topaz and diamond before he left. Kurama sighed; he was pathetic. Even when his friends had so blatantly betrayed him, he couldn't leave two of them in danger.

"Yoko!"

Kurama had barely registered the cry of his old name before someone came running towards him, striking him around the middle in a fierce hug. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he looked down to see the person he had missed for so long.

K'Ray.

She looked exactly the same as she had the day she was taken. Her straight midnight hair, even darker than Hiei's, fell in a thick cascade a few inches past her shoulders, shining despite the lack of light. Her bright, beautiful violet eyes sparkled with tears of joy. She wore a tight fitting, forest green tunic and brown leggings, her favorite clothes. She hugged Kurama again, looking up to meet his eyes.

"They told me you were dead," she said. "But I wouldn't believe them. And here you are, alive! Different, yes, but alive all the same." She stroked his red hair, smiling. "I like it." Kurama studied K'Ray, ecstatic that she was living, too.

He took a deep breath. Before anything else was said, he had to tell her about his life as a human. But the thing was, would she accept it?

"I am no longer Yoko," he said. K'Ray cocked her head curiously.

"Who are you, then?" she asked.

"Kurama," he replied. "Just Kurama. I have given up my career as a thief and live among humans as Shuichi Minamino. I am—was—a Spirit Detective." K'Ray studied him, as if looking for something. Suddenly, she smiled.

"Kurama," she repeated. "It sounds even lovelier without a dark title attached to it." Kurama beamed as he looked at K'Ray. She accepted him! It was wonderful.

K'Ray placed a hand on his chest, then jerked back, surprised. "Kurama!" she exclaimed. "You're hurt!" Kurama looked down at his chest wound. Oddly enough, it had stopped hurting.

Matsuji, he thought. He's healing me. Because I came to his side. Even as he placed his own hand on his chest, he felt the last of the wound close and heal.

"It's ok," he said. "Your captor has cured me." K'Ray looked at him doubtfully, worry in her eyes. At last, she nodded.

Abruptly, he pushed K'Ray out at arm's length, studying her closely. "This Matsuji," he said, "has he done anything to you? If he hurt you, I'll-"

"No," K'Ray interrupted. "He hasn't touched me. At least, not in that way. I've spent all these years here, in this underground prison. He's watched me as closely as a master will watch their prized slave." K'Ray shivered, despite the warmth of the room. "I tried running away once, to find you. I almost escaped, but he caught me before I could enter your territory. I was…punished…and he shadowed me even closer than before." As she said this, the girl unconsciously grasped her left wrist. Kurama took her hand, pushing up the cloth of her sleeve. His eyes hardened when he saw what Matsuji had done.

K'Ray's left wrist was covered with a brand. It was a sun overlapped by a moon and was deeply burned into the girl's pale skin. Kurama's heart fumed as he thought of the pain the mark must have caused. K'Ray, seeing his anger, sighed. She pulled her hand away, covering the brand with her sleeve.

"It's all right," she said. "It was years ago and no longer hurts. Besides, it was a small price to pay, if we're together again." She smiled reassuringly. Kurama smiled back. That girl could convince him of anything.

Suddenly, he pulled her forward, kissing her deeply. She kissed him back, her heart glowing at the thought that, at last, they could be together. No longer was she in danger because of Kurama's reputation.

They broke the kiss a few moments later, both blushing.

"I love you, K'Ray," Kurama said. "I've missed you so much."

"I love you, too," K'Ray replied. She rested her head on Kurama's chest. "It's been horrible without you."

Suddenly, a door creaked open at the other end of the chamber. A tall, lean figure came in.

It was Matsuji.

His dark hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and his gray eyes shined with cold amusement. He regarded Kurama like he was a valuable stallion at auction.

"Hello, Kurama," he greeted, raising a gloved hand. "I've waited so long to meet you." Kurama nodded stiffly back, the image of K'Ray's brand burned into his mind. As if reading his thoughts, K'Ray took Kurama's hand, silently begging him not to get angry.

"Why have you brought me here?" Kurama demanded, his voice hard. "And why did you take K'Ray away from me?"

"Peace, young warrior," Matsuji said condescendingly. "I took K'Ray because it was necessary if she was to continue living." He smirked at Kurama's surprised look. "Really, Kurama, did you think she would have lasted more than a day after you where hurt by that hunter? Demons from all parts of the Makai would have wanted to murder her, simply because she was connected to you."

Kurama drew K'Ray protectively close to his side. He would never have let that happen! But before he could say anything, Matsuji continued.

"As for bringing you here, I did because I need your assistance." Kurama looked at him apprehensively.

"My assistance?" he asked. Matsuji nodded.

"Yes. You have seen how traitorous people can be." Kurama flinched, not wanting to remember the events of the past few days. "Well, I need your help destroying traitors like them. I have a gift. I can make soul gems, any kind, and as you know, they work when close to their victim. I will make you soul gems for the different leaders of Demon World. You get close to them, take their souls, and report back to me. In return," Matsuji paused. "In return, you can live here as my general, with K'Ray. What do you say?"

Kurama hesitated. What Matsuji was basically asking was for Kurama to become his assassin. Was he going to leave his human life that far behind? But then again, the people he cared about most had just turned their backs on him. He refused, utterly refused, to go back to them. Never.

The fox looked at K'Ray. The girl was staring at Matsuji with a mix of horror and disbelief. He knew how she felt about this. It was against her very nature to voluntarily kill.

Kurama turned to her, lifting her chin so that she was looking directly at him. "I do not make this choice because I wish to kill again," he explained to her. "If I do not comply, we will be torn apart once more, and my soul cannot take another day without you. Please believe me, I only do this so we can be together." K'Ray hesitated, but finally nodded. Kurama smiled weakly, glad that she wouldn't be angry with him.

"Fine," he said, turning to Matsuji. "I will serve you."

Matsuji smiled broadly, a triumphant look shining in his eyes. "Very good," he said. "Here, let me show you to your rooms." He turned to K'Ray, who was frowning at him, bewildered. "That's right, my little vixen. You are free to come and go as you wish now. No longer are you my prisoner; you answer to Kurama from now on."

K'Ray's eyes widened. She was free! Never again would she have to sleep, bound and chained, in that small, damp cell, with only the wind to keep her company. She hadn't told Kurama about the pain she had endured while down there; the whippings, beatings, days without food or water. No, she wouldn't tell him about that. He had suffered enough on her part. Why add guilt, too?

Matsuji led Kurama and K'Ray down a hall until he stopped in front of two doors side by side. The demon motioned towards one.

"This is your room, Kurama," he said. "The one next to it is K'Ray's. Sleep well, my general." With that, he turned and left.

K'Ray followed Kurama into his room. It was large and comfortable, looking more human than demon. Kurama sat down on the edge of his bed, motioning for K'Ray to sit next to him. She complied, taking his hand in hers.

"It's been so long," she said. "Tell me about your adventures."

Kurama took a deep breath before beginning. He told her everything, from the day she had been taken, to his birth as a human, and his career as a Spirit Detective. It felt so good to be able to talk to her, with no fear of judgment. She listened quietly, now and then making a comment. When Kurama finally came to Hiei's betrayal, she squeezed his hand.

"I'm sorry this had happened because of me," she said softly. "Your friends have hurt you, badly. They had no right to take their anger and pain out on you, but I can tell by your voice that you understand they didn't truly mean it. Don't give up on them, Kurama. Deep down, they miss you as much as you miss them, however angry you are."

Kurama smiled. How did she know exactly what to say to lift his guilt and ease his pain? It was her gift, he supposed, and a good one at that. He stroked her hair lovingly.

"Thank you, my rose," he said. She smiled, resting her head against his shoulder.

"You're tired," he admonished. "You should go to sleep. We can talk again in the morning." K'Ray nodded, smothering a yawn. She kissed him on the cheek before going to her room.

"Goodnight, Kurama," she said, before heading to her room. Kurama smiled, lying down.

K'Ray was back in his life.

It was a week later. Kurama studied himself in the mirror, examining his new uniform. It looked exactly like his school uniform, except that it was black with rich silver embroidery along the cuffs and neck. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. It was his first mission. Who was Matsuji going to make him kill?

Kurama left his room, making his way to Matsuji's main chamber. K'Ray was already there, using a rag to polish off the statues that decorated the room. Now that she was free, she had been spending her time cleaning the different rooms, trying, as she had said, to liven the place up. Kurama smiled when he saw her. She winked at him before moving on to the next statue.

"Matsuji-sama," Kurama greeted as he kneeled before the demon, "I am here as you commanded. Who is it I am to go after?"

Matsuji grinned before tossing a gem at Kurama. The fox caught it, catching his breath as he saw what it was. An amethyst?

"The person you are to kill," Matsuji said, "is Genkai, master of the rei gun technique." Kurama's eyes widened.

Genkai?

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: How'd you like it? Please review and tell me what you think! I have so much fun with those romantic parts. Sorry, Inu-chan, you have a friend who likes romantic stuff. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it! Until next time, see ya!