Author's Note: Hi everyone! Ok, I want to apologize for Sesshy's Sweetheart's review-despite what you think, she will NOT come tapping on your window with an axe. She just gets…protective when it comes to my self-esteem or feelings. nervous laugh Best friends'll do that. I went to a cool party on Saturday and danced with the cutest guy, Andrew! major blush Ok, sorry about that. On with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Kurama stood up shakily. "Genkai?" he repeated. Matsuji nodded, an odd gleam in his eyes.

"That hag has eluded me too many times. I want you to steal her soul. That way, I can have her power. I will be the most powerful demon in the Makai!"

Kurama felt K'Ray come up behind him. She gripped his hand nervously.

"Why so power hungry all of the sudden?" she asked. Matsuji studied her, his gaze cold and calculating.

"Why?" he echoed. "Because, my little vixen, I now have a very important weapon on my side; Kurama."

Kurama was growing suspicious. Matsuji seemed…different, now. He wasn't the type to jump into things like this; was he really that eager to see Genkai dead?

Genkai. She had been his teacher, his mentor. Was Kurama angry enough to exact his revenge on her? After all, she hadn't done anything to him, not directly.

But then again, she hadn't come looking for him, either. Kurama had no doubt that someone with Genkai's power would have located him by now. So that was it, wasn't it? They really didn't care if he was gone. Despite the time that had past, the pain of his friends' betrayal still hurt too much to think about.

"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?"

"Maybe we don't care, Kurama."

"We would be just as fine without you."

"Fine," Kurama said. "I'll go."

"Good," Matsuji smiled. "I expect you to leave for Genkai's temple immediately." With that, Matsuji stood up and left, his boots clicking as he walked across the hall.

As soon as he was gone, K'Ray exploded.

"That jerk!" she exclaimed angrily. "How could he expect this of you? He should know that it's too soon! I have half a mind to go and-"

"No," Kurama interrupted. K'Ray looked at him curiously. "It's not too soon. I will go, and I will retrieve Genkai's soul."

"Kurama, I know you don't want to do this. Just refuse."

"It's too late for that."

"Kurama-"

"K'Ray, please." The fox ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "If I think about this, I'm going to back out. I have to face this if I'm to get over it."

"Ok. But let me go with you."

Kurama cocked his head, studying K'Ray. She nodded earnestly, tugging at his hand. "Do you really think I'm going to let you face this alone? I lost you once. I never, ever want to hurt like that again."

Kurama instantly wanted to say no. How could he ever live with a clear conscience if K'Ray got hurt? But she looked so earnest, and the stubborn determination in her eyes told him that she wouldn't give up this argument easily.

"All right," he said, "but the moment things get too dangerous, you run."

K'Ray opened her mouth to protest, but the look on her love's face made her reconsider. She nodded, but she had a bad feeling in her heart.

"Let's get ready," Kurama said. K'Ray nodded, heading to her room to change. Kurama palmed the amethyst before slipping it into his pocket. So it had come to this. In his heart, Kurama had hoped never to see his friends again. He didn't know if he would survive such an encounter. To see their faces, hear their voices…it would be too much.

K'Ray came back from her room. She was wearing a tight shirt and pants (tight clothing is easier to maneuver in than loose when fighting,) and had tied her hair up in a ponytail. Kurama smiled as she came up beside him.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. A portal appeared in front of them. Kurama let go of K'Ray's hand so that he could step through first.

As soon as he had disappeared through the portal, K'Ray went to follow him. She yelped as she felt someone grab her by the neck, jerking her back. The portal snapped shut, leaving the girl in the hall. She whirled around to face her captor.

It was Matsuji.

The demon smirked at K'Ray's furious expression. "What did you do that for?" she demanded. "I need to help Kurama!"

"Little vixen, did you actually think I was sending him to retrieve his old master's soul?" Matsuji asked smoothly. K'Ray glared at him, a horrifying suspicion worming its way into her heart.

"Where did you send him?" she hissed.

"To his death."

"Why?"

"Because, if he lived, I wouldn't have you all to myself." Matsuji stroked K'Ray's cheek. The girl angrily slapped his hand away. "He should have never found you. But you had to send for him in your dreams, didn't you? But he wouldn't have rested until he located you, so I lured him here with empty promises. And now that he is here, I will kill him. And then," Matsuji leaned down until he was eye level with K'Ray. "I'll have you."

K'Ray's eyes widened. Furious, she lashed out, slapping Matsuji as hard as she could. A bruise rapidly formed on the demon's cheek, and blood trickled from his nose. He never flinched, but his eyes hardened into shards of glass.

"You will wish you had never done that," he promised in a cold voice. Quick as a snake, he darted forward, catching K'Ray's wrist in an iron grip. The girl fought back viciously, nut it was in vain. Matsuji picked her up, and, with a smirk, carried her towards her old cell. "Do you remember the last time you were punished?"

K'Ray trembled in fear, tears stinging her eyes.

Kurama, be safe.

Kurama stepped through the portal into a wooded area, much like the place he had left his friends. It was night, and he shivered slightly from the chill wind that whispered between the trees. He looked behind him as the portal closed, but K'Ray was nowhere to be seen. Apprehension gnawed at his heart. Why hadn't she come? She had been so vehement about following him.

Kurama stepped forward, looking about the clearing. Though he concentrated, he couldn't feel Genkai's ki anywhere. In fact, he had never recalled his old mentor being this far from her temple.

"Inari," he said out loud. "What is going on?"

Suddenly, Kurama jumped as he felt about fifty unfamiliar kis flare up around him. He snapped out his rosewhip, instantly realizing that this was a trap. He cursed himself for being so blind.

"Matsuji," he said, "you'll pay. I swear it!" Just then, the demons attacked.

Kurama fought better than he ever had before. His rosewhip moved so fast you couldn't see it. But no matter how many he killed, more poured in to take their places.

Before long, he was overcome.

K'Ray stumbled from Matsuji's hall into the frigid night. She knew he was letting her go on purpose, but she didn't care. She had to find Kurama. She had to.

She ran forward blindly, clutching her right wrist. The agony that pulsed from her new brand was so bad she nearly fainted on the spot. Matsuji had not branded her the same way as the first time; no, this time he took extra measures to make the ordeal as painful as possible. Blood trickled from the wound, staining her sleeve and left hand red. Her sensitive nose picked up Matsuji's scent; his scent was on every portal he made.

After running for a few hours, K'Ray froze. Blood, lots and lots of it, assaulted her senses. She reeled back, blinking away unconsciousness. There, in a clearing before her, a horrid battle had taken place.

Piles of demons were splayed across the clearing, the ground saturated with blood. K'Ray picked her way among the bodies, looking for any sign of her love. Before long, she found it. A single rose, bloody and yet unharmed, lay in a puddle of gore. K'Ray picked it up, tears welling in her eyes. She tucked the rose into her ponytail, determination steeling her resolve.

"You're alive, Kurama. I know it. I swear I will find you."

K'Ray stood up, swaying slightly. She knew she couldn't do this alone. Only one person could help her, and she needed his help. She went off in the direction of Genkai's temple.

She was going to find Kurama.

Hiei woke up on his perch in Genkai's tree. He looked down, half expecting to see Kurama's form on the ground below, where he had so often slept after a sparring match. But no; Kurama was gone. Hiei closed his eyes as intense guilt threatened to smother him. He had sent Kurama away; he had betrayed him.

"We would be just as fine without you."

Hiei jumped down from the tree branch, angry tears in his eyes. Stupid fox; why the HECK did he have to leave? That look on his face before he had stepped through the portal had pierced Hiei to the very soul. And the soul gems. Why had he left them?

The fire demon looked over at Yukina and Kuwabara, who were chatting happily on the porch. They were both fine. Genkai had returned their souls to them the same night Kurama had left.

Hiei went and walked into the forest by the temple. Why did he feel so horrible? Kurama had left a week ago-a week! No one should be affecting him like this! But Kurama did. Hiei groaned, hitting his head against a tree.

"If this is how friendship makes you feel, I want out," he growled. He was such an idiot. Why did he have to go and make himself a friend? (A/N: Remember people-JUST FRIENDS.)

"Hey you!"

Hiei turned to regard a girl that had come up behind him. She was small, around 5' 2" (my height!) and looked very tired. She was holding her right wrist, and blood was flowing freely from a burn that marred it. Upon closer inspection, Hiei saw she had the same burn on her other wrist; a sun with a moon over it.

"Are you Hiei Jaganshi?" the girl demanded. Hiei regarded her coldly.

"Yes. Why do you care?"

"I need your help." The girl took a step forward, leaning against a tree for support. "Kurama had been taken. He was ambushed. You have to help me track him!"

"After what he did? You've got to be kidding me." In truth, Hiei was shocked to hear that Kurama was in danger. What had happened to him while he was gone?

"Listen, from what I've heard you are Kurama's closest friend. That's why I came to you for help. But if you are going to let your egotistical pride get in the way of your loyalty, I will kill you right now and find him myself."

Hiei stared at her, surprised by her determination. "You? Kill me?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes." The girl looked at him earnestly. "Please, help me. I can't live without him."

"What's your name?"

"K'Ray."

Hiei glared at her coldly. "This is all your fault!"

"Me?" K'Ray asked in disbelief. "From what I've heard, it was your words that sent him away!"

Hiei flinched. Stupid baka idiot jerk-

"I can hear you, you know," K'Ray commented. Hiei looked at her in surprise.

"What?"

"I'm a Ryokun, remember? I can hear others thoughts." K'Ray fixed him with the most plaintive yet determined gaze the fire demon had ever seen.

"Help me find Kurama. Please."

Hiei hesitated. But it was his best friend, and he had betrayed him…

"Fine."

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: What did you all think? Like it? Hate it? Review and tell me, please! Thanks everyone! See ya next time!