Author's Note: Hi everyone! Well, this is the eighth chapter. Isn't it amazing how fast this story has gone? I can't believe it, myself. I want to thank everyone who's reviewed and taken the time to read this story. I've had so much fun! Well, let's continue!

Oh, and here's a note: If it's in italics, it's a flashback.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Since Kurama was able to walk, he and Ren followed the beaten path out of the forest to a crowded town. The streets were narrow and dirty, with the buildings veritably leaning over them. Demons of all races bustled about, each with their own personal task. Kurama even saw a couple of kitsunes darting about, some with other demon's money.

Yoko smiled cunningly as he pocketed another hapless demon's coin pouch. "This is too easy," he thought, ducking around a corner and melting into the shadows.

Kurama's eyes widened. He had remembered something! Of course, it wasn't enough to bring back his full memory, but it was a start, at least.

"Come on, Kurama-kun, we have to find a place to stay," Ren said, tugging at Kurama's hand. He raised his eyebrows at Ren's name for him, but brushed it off. Maybe she always called him that; he couldn't remember. All he could recall from his life, demon and human, was K'Ray.

And now a new name. Hiei. It sounded so familiar, but Kurama couldn't place his finger on it. Well, if this Hiei had stolen K'Ray, no wonder it rang a bell. And Kurama had vowed to get K'Ray back, even if it meant killing Hiei. In fact, he intended to do just that.

Ren pulled Kurama into a rather large inn. Its shabby outside, however, masked a very extravagant inside. The floors were paneled and had thick rugs, and the walls were covered with tapestries and paintings. Kurama suspected that more than half of those works of art were most likely stolen.

"How may I help you, Miss?" the concierge asked. He was dressed in a red uniform and looked almost human, except that he had two twisting horns spiraling from his head.

"We need two adjoining rooms, please," Ren said. She placed a sizable amount of yen on the desk in front of the demon. (A/N: I don't know. Do demons have their own currency?) "I don't know if this will cover it."

The horned concierge eyed the money greedily. He snatched it with his clawed hands, stuffing it into his coat pocket.

"This will do fine," he smirked. "Follow me, please."

Kurama and Ren followed the demon up a flight of gigantic stairs to their rooms. The concierge smiled (kind of) one last time before heading back downstairs.

Ren ushered Kurama into one of the rooms, motioning towards the bed. "You get some sleep," she instructed. "I'm going to wash up and find you some new clothes. Then we'll see about recovering your memory."

Kurama, purely bewildered, just nodded. Ren pushed him into the room, shutting the door behind him. The fox finally realized just how tired he was. He barely made it to the bed before falling asleep.

Ren darted into her room, quickly snapping the door shut. She spun to face Matsuji, who was lounging against a desk.

"How is it going?" he inquired, his face a perpetual smirk. Ren rolled her eyes dramatically, fanning herself with a hand.

"He's extremely handsome, I'll give him that. In fact, I'd date him. But how long do I have to put on this stupid 'good-friend-of-yours-let-me-help' act? It's really boring."

"Not much longer," Matsuji reassured her. "My plan is working out quite well, actually."

"What are you plotting?" Ren asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Matsuji laughed softly.

"You'll find out soon enough," he said cryptically. Ren pouted but didn't press the subject. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Yes," Ren said, her face hard with jealousy. "Make Kurama forget K'Ray, too. Or if that can't happen, at least promise me that I can strangle the life out of her pretty little body."

"I can promise you that," Matsuji said. "K'Ray will be yours to kill."

Ren clapped her hands happily. She had hated that little wench for years, ever since she had learned that Matsuji was attracted to the Ryokun.

Matsuji smiled to himself. In truth, he would never let Ren actually kill K'Ray; he still wanted her for himself, after all. But if that was the prize Ren needed to continue her work, then so be it. She would find out she had been tricked after this was all over.

The demon cupped his chin in a gloved hand, his expression thoughtful. "I must go," he said. "I need to set some kind of a trail for Hiei and K'Ray to follow. They'll be here soon enough. Until then, fill Kurama's head with horrid stories of Hiei, the Dark Demon." With a cruel laugh, Matsuji waved up a portal. He stepped through, a cunning smile gracing his lips.

It was so much fun to toy with others.

K'Ray and Hiei, their recently purchased rucksacks full of food, set out of the shabby little town towards a huge forest. It was thick, dark, and tangled. K'Ray pointed to the west, towards a solitary mountain that loomed up from the mass of trees.

"That's Hiroku Mountain," she said. She moved her finger a little to the left. "Kurama was ambushed about ten miles from there. We should go back to the attack spot and pick up his trail from there."

Hiei studied the girl incredulously. "So why didn't you just follow him from there?" he demanded. "Why did you come get me? The trail will be cold now."

"Because," K'Ray said impatiently, "I needed help. Do you really think I can take on Matsuji and whatever other creepy people he hangs out with alone and in this condition?"

" 'In this condition?' " Hiei repeated sneeringly. "That's pathetic."

"I'm not throwing myself a pity party," K'Ray informed the fire demon coolly. "I'm stating fact. Take an honest look at me. Do I look like I'm ready for a fight?"

For the first time, Hiei actually studied his companion. K'Ray was fit and trim, but she was right about her 'condition'. Her right wrist and hand was covered in blood, though most of it was dry. Whenever she moved that wrist, however, new streams of blood would trickle from her brand. She was covered in a mass of cuts and bruises, though her face was unmarked. She also limped slightly, though she hid that well.

"Hn. Whatever." Hiei stalked past K'Ray, heading towards the trail that would lead into the forest. K'Ray hurried after him, shaking her head. They would never get along.

The two traveled in silence for a few hours. K'Ray sighed. Every bit of her ached and she longed to rest, but she wouldn't dare even mentioning it in front of Hiei. She would lie down when he said it was ok.

Suddenly Hiei stopped. He threw out his arm, blocking K'Ray's way. He immediately set up a telepathic link between himself and the girl.

Can you sense that?

Yes. It's a bat demon, I think.

I think so too. Hn, follow me, but watch yourself.

Ok.

The two walked forward slowly, each on their guard. K'Ray slid her hand down until it was resting on the hilt of the dagger she kept by her waist. Hiei gripped his katana, keeping it low so that the metal wouldn't glint and give off their position.

A maniacal cackling abruptly split the night air. Hiei immediately dropped into a defensive posture, K'Ray doing the same.

"Are you the little fox's friends?" a squealing voice asked. Lots of laughter echoed from the trees as hundreds of hidden kis suddenly flared up. Hiei cursed fluently; they were surrounded and outnumbered. This is probably what happened to Kurama, the fire demon realized. From what K'Ray said, we aren't far from the ambush sight.

"And what if we are?" K'Ray shouted back. "Why would a bunch of cowardly rats with wings like you care?"

The trees around them shuddered as the bat demons grew angry. "What the heck are you doing?" Hiei hissed. K'Ray didn't look at him; instead, she kept her focus on the branches above them.

"That's right!" she continued. "We knew you were there from the moment we set foot in this trashed excuse of a hideout!"

The branches moved even more as the demons became increasingly agitated.

"Shut up!" Hiei growled. "You'll get us killed!"

K'Ray ignored him completely. "And I bet your leader is even worse! Why doesn't he come face me? Is he too scared? Or is he just too ugly?"

Finally, a bat demon showed itself. It was huge, hideous, and dangerous. It hopped about on a branch directly in front of K'Ray, chattering with anger, its massive wings unfolded and beating the air.

"Are you the boss?" K'Ray asked incredulously. "I've seen mouse demons more impressive than you!"

That was the final straw. The bat demon swooped from its branch, clawed hands extended. K'Ray turned as is ready to dive away, but tripped. She landed hard on her stomach, completely vulnerable.

Before Hiei could do anything, the bat demon had grabbed K'Ray and swooped to an even higher branch. It sat there, dangling the girl by her throat above the ground, which was fifty feet below her.

"Not so tough now, are you?" it hissed. "What can your petty words do for you now?"

Hiei moved to help K'Ray, but froze when the demon brought its mouth inches from her neck. "Move and she dies," it stated simply. Hiei snarled but didn't move.

Stupid girl, he thought. You're going to die.

The bat demon ran a talon down K'Ray's cheek, drawing a bright line of blood. "You're helpless," it hissed gleefully.

"You're dead," K'Ray retorted.

Suddenly, the bat demon wailed in pain. It dropped K'Ray, clawing at its throat. Hiei darted forward, catching K'Ray before she hit the ground. He held her bridal style, staring up at the bat demon incredulously.

The demon screamed again as its skin tore. Blood splattered the ground in dark puddles. Its luminescent eyes rolled into the back of its head. With a final, strangled cry, it dropped off the branch, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

The other bat demons screeched in confusion. Then, showing their true colors, they all fled, unable to take any other course of action without their leader.

K'Ray grinned recklessly. "Yes!" she crowed. "I knew it would work!"

Hiei stared wide-eyed at the girl. "What?" he asked. "What did you just do?"

"I baited him," K'Ray stated. "Never underestimate the power of hurting someone's pride."

"But, he just-"

"Died?" K'Ray finished. Hiei set her down gently. "Yeah. I needed him to come in direct contact with me, so I taunted him, pretended to trip, and let him get a hold of me. I have the weird kind of…power…that lets me physically hurt anyone who touches me." As you can see," she paused, motioning at the bat demon corpse, "it works quite well."

Hiei hid his amazement under a scowl. "I will never touch you again," he said. K'Ray smiled widely.

"Just don't get me mad," she laughed. With a wave of her hand, she started off. "Come on, we have to find Kurama!"

Hiei followed, sighing. This girl never ceased to amaze him.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Well, whaddya think? I'm so happy. The bakas at Cartoon Network took Yu Yu Hakusho off the air a while back, but one of the episodes is playing tonight! Yaaayy! It's at 3:30 in the morning, and since there's NO WAY on this good earth that I can stay up that late, I'm gonna tape it. I'm excited. Ok, please, please, please review! It'd mean a lot. Thanks everyone! Love ya!