Author's note:I've had this fic on my computer for about two years now. I no longer watch Yu Yu Hakusho, although I still love the characters, my favorite being Youko Kurama of course! - Anyway, It's real short and I wasn't really at ease about it. I think the concept came from another fic I read somewhere. I can't remember what it was though, so if anyone reads this fic and recognize where the idea comes from, please tell me so I can acknowledge it! Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own it, although I wish I owned Youko. He's cool. :)

Chapter one

Kurama was wandering. It has been three years since Shiori died. Immediately after, he changed back to Youko Kurama and returned to the Makai. Hiei was still busy with Mukuro, Yusuke was becoming more powerful with each passing day, and Botan and Koenma were busy with soul-passing as always.

The kitsune sighed, his five tails low. It was quite depressive to be alone in the Makai, since he knew how it was to be human, with friends. He knew he was becoming more powerful, more than any of the Makai's rulers, but he didn't want it to be known.

The other demons still feared him, and he was still a legend. However, he wasn't cruel anymore, for a part of his human heart remained, and he didn't want to be challenged by everyone.

The tournament Yusuke instigated didn't last long, for soon enough, powerful youkais wanted to take over, and the old realms had to be restored in order to keep peace in the Makai, with, however, better relationships.

Lost in his thoughts, Kurama didn't realize that he had left the forest and was now near a small village. Only when he bumped into the small body did he came back to reality.

A small girl lay there, unconscious, her face in the dirt. She had several bruises and wounds on her cheeks and arms, and it was obvious that she had tried to reach the nearby village, but had collapsed of exhaustion, unnoticed in the morning fog.

She'll die if she isn't tended soon, Kurama thought.

He knew he could tend her wounds himself, but he also knew that what she needed most was her parents' love. In the village.

Kurama's youko self struggled with his conscience, but compassion finally won. He turned back from fox to youko form and cradled the little girl in his arms, careful not to injure her anymore.

Then, he slowly advanced to the wooden gates. He was aware of the danger of being shot, because he was youkai, but he hoped they would be too terrified to aim well.

He knocked on the door lightly, then with more strength. After some time, a head appeared in the guard tower, immediately followed by a yelp and an alarm cry. And then an arrow was shot.

But as expected, it was not well aimed, and landed several feet away from the youko.

"Wait!" Kurama said, "I do not seek any harm to you! See? I found this little girl not far away from here. She is injured, and needs help!"

As he said so, he put the little girl's face in the light. The guard yelped again. Soon after, the doors opened and Kurama entered to find that the whole village's population was there, looking suspiciously at him, rudimentary weapons ready at hand.

Kurama did not care, for a woman at the right caught his attention. She was half-hidden by the crowd, and kept her head low, tears going down her tired face, and the air of despair and sorrow clinging to her.

Feeling herself observed, the woman left her eyes, only to find herself staring into two golden orbs. Then her eyes came to lie on the bundle cradled in the demon's arms, and she cried, rushing to him and taking the child away from the danger.

"What have you done to her!" she said between her tears, anger filling her voice.

"I didn't do anything to her, woman. I merely found her lying unconscious before the gates, and decided that she needed immediate care. So I brought her in."

"You lie!" a man behind her said. "Demons never show compassion to humans! What do you want this time? Gold? We don't have any!"

"If I wanted anything, you would be dead for long, human," Kurama replied coldly.

He then turned his gaze back to the woman and her child. The little girl's life was quickly fading away.

Fearing for the youngster, and without thinking more, the youko advanced towards the woman, taking one of the small bags at his belt. The woman looked at him with fearful eyes, as the other townspeople came closer, ready to kill the demon.

"This bag contains healing herbs," the youko said, putting it in the woman's hand. "Boil them in water and give it to her, it will heal her wounds." Then, seeing the look she gave him: "Trust me or not, but if you want her to live, you'll do as I say."

With that, the youko turned and went back to the forest, unaware of the looks of disbelief on the humans' faces.