Author's Note: Hi everyone! So so sorry I haven't updated in a while. Ok, I slept over at my best friend's house on Saturday. We watched War of the Worlds and Gremlins. Ever since I was little, I have had an immense phobia to gremlins. They're really scary! Well, I watched the movie again and am proud to say that I've gotten over my fear. Yay! Our school Christmas pageant is tomorrow. No! I'm an angel and we have to stand really close, so we'll all get beat up by each other's wings. NOT fun. Well, on with the story!

I'm listening to "The Promise" off the Pure Moods CD and Christmas Eve/Sarajevo off the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They match this chapter very well, so listen to it while reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

When Kurama woke up again, he didn't recognize where he was. He was lying on a large bed in a well furnished, carpeted room, though the walls were made of stone. A distant rumbled growled its way through the rough walls and into Kurama's aching head. He sat up with a groan, moving stiffly because of all the bandages. Dried blood cracked along his jaw.

The fox stood up, and, after stretching his aching muscles, left the room and began walking down the hall. Once again, frustrating questions swam in his head. Where was he? What was he doing here? But they were joined by a new and even more devastating question.

Who was he?

Kurama made his way into a large cavern brightly lit by torches. A throne was at the opposite end. On it sat a tall, lean man with black hair that he had never seen before (or had he? He couldn't remember) and next to him was a beautiful girl with long, golden hair. She winked at him, smiling slyly.

"Ah, so you're awake," the man said. He folded his gloved hands, seeming immensely satisfied. "Good."

"Um, sorry, I don't…know you," Kurama finally replied. He looked around again, confused, before returning his gaze to the man.

"Oh, yes, I forgot," the man said, surprised. "You can't remember anything, can you?"

"No."

Kurama didn't catch the smile the man tossed to the girl.

"Well then, let me introduce everyone," he continued. "I am Matsuji, this is Ren, and you, my friend, are Kurama."

Matsuji? Ren? Kurama played with the names in his head. He had heard them before, he was sure of it…but where? And his name—Kurama. The fox sighed. It was really quite sad that he didn't even know who he was.

"All right," Kurama said determinedly. So what if he had amnesia? He wasn't going to run around blind. "I thank you for your help, and I'm sorry if this is blunt, but for all I know you could be lying to me. How do I know you're telling the truth and not using me?"

Matsuji laughed. "My, but aren't you smart," he exclaimed in a pleased way. "I wouldn't expect any less of you. Well, here's your proof. You're injured quite badly, right?"

Kurama nodded stiffly.

"You were hurt by two people I am about to show you. I'll explain further in a moment."

Kurama went over to a basin by Matsuji. The black-haired demon waved his hand across the surface. The dark liquid rippled, shimmering translucently. After a moment, the hazy image of two people kneeling on a cliff came into view, getting sharper every second. The girl had long black hair in a ponytail and violet eyes, and the boy had spiky black hair with a white starburst and red eyes.

As Kurama watched, the boy pushed the girl out at arms' length. He held her there for a moment, before pulling her in and kissing her.

"They are K'Ray and Hiei," Matsuji said. "Both are heartless thieves and have ransacked my home dozens of times. They attacked you on the road and continued on their way here. They need to be stopped, and soon, before another life is taken." Matsuji turned to regard Kurama, who was staring at the scrying mirror. "What if I said I could give you back your memory, every scrap of it?"

Kurama instantly snapped his gaze to the demon standing next to him. "What's the price?" he asked sardonically.

"My my, ever to the point, aren't you?" Matsuji asked. "All I ask is that you kill those two when they come here. That is all, and I will help you regain your memory."

"When will they be here?"

"An hour at the most."

Kurama turned once again to the two people. They were running up a path along the mountainside. In the distance you could see the waterfall that hid Trickster's Cavern.

He thought it over. He didn't even know these people (or did he?) and wasn't sure if they had done anything wrong. But he was hurt, and how else could he explain that? Besides, he would get his memory back, and that was the most important thing…

"All right," he said. "I'll do it."

Matsuji smiled. "Good," he said. "Come, let us get you some new clothes."

He led Kurama away, smiling cruelly the whole while.

Hiei swung K'Ray up from the crevice, pulling her into his arms. What had just happened? He had let his mother and sister die, that's what. And why…?

Because he was in love with K'Ray.

Suddenly, the Ryokun disappeared from his arms. The cave around him seemed to be melting, like a watercolor painting left in the rain. It became hazy and indistinct, and before Hiei knew it, he was kneeling by the cavern's mouth.

"What…happened?" he asked, gazing around in complete confusion. He was surrounded by the owl priests, who were talking excitedly among themselves. A small figure pushed her way out of the crowd.

"Hiei! Hiei, are you ok?" K'Ray asked, throwing herself down next to the fire demon. The wards were still wrapped around her arms and legs.

"Where am I?" Hiei finally asked. K'Ray looked at him in concern.

"You went into the cave about three hours ago," she said. "What happened in there?"

Hiei suddenly grabbed K'Ray by the shoulders, studying her intently. She was ok, but why? Had that all been a dream? But that didn't matter. He knew the truth now. He loved her.

Abruptly, Hiei pulled K'Ray forward. He pressed her lips to his in a chaste yet loving kiss, all his emotions coming forth. He formed a telepathic link with the girl.

I love you, K'Ray.

K'Ray sat there, shocked. Finally, she pulled away, looking at Hiei with surprise.

"Hiei, I—I don't-"

Hiei put a hand to her mouth, smiling slightly. "It's ok," he assured her. "I know; you're in love with Kurama. I just…I had to let you know. In case something happens." The specter of his nightmare surfaced, but he pushed it away.

"I'm sorry," K'Ray whispered, blushing. She leaned forward, kissing Hiei on the cheek. "If it helps, I care about you immensely…just not in that way."

"I understand." All compassion gone, the fire demon turned to the owl priests, who were hovering to the side. "Hey, bird-brains!" he barked. "So everything in there was just an illusion?"

"Yes," the head priest said. "Your own heart made that whole encounter happen. It was trying to tell you who you loved the most." The owl seemed to smile. "Did you get your answer?"

"Hn." Hiei stood up, pulling K'Ray up, too. "Which way to Trickster's Cavern?"

The priests pointed up a winding path. Hiei strained his hearing. In the distance he could hear the grumbling of the waterfall.

"Thanks," K'Ray said, and both she and Hiei began running up the path towards the waterfall. Towards Kurama.

The two demons had come to an unspoken understanding. Though Hiei's heart did ache for K'Ray, her heart had already been claimed by a certain redhead, and she saw Hiei only as a friend. Their relationship was strictly platonic—they were good friends, like brother and sister. They weren't going to let unrequited love get in the way of their friendship, but they weren't going to let it go anywhere, either.

But that didn't mean they couldn't hold hands as they ran up the path.

Kurama looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a new black tunic and pants and his hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. He sighed deeply; what was going on?

He turned and looked back into a scrying mirror, where the small images of K'Ray and Hiei were growing ever nearer to Trickster's Cavern. He didn't even know these people, and yet he was going to kill them.

Funny how things worked.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Sorry this is so short! I'm low on time, so this was kinda like a filler chapter. The next one will be packed with action, I assure you. Pleasepleaseplease review! It'd mean a lot. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!