Chapter 7: Why Yes, Yes It Can

"Poison!" Yusuke gasped, not believing what he was hearing. "Is he going to be okay…what can we do?"

"If he was full ningen, he would be dead by now, if he was full demon, he would have healed himself by now." Genkai said, reaching for her bag and rummaging around until she came out with a thermometer. Placing it in Kurama's mouth, she held it until it 'beep'.

"What are you talking about?" Yusuke asked, clearly confused and just wanting to know if his friend was going to be alright.

"Just what I said…the poison is strong and if he were a full ningen, he would have died within minutes of contact. If he were full demon, he would have been strong enough to have worked the poison out of his system. It looks like we are going to have to take care of his symptoms to help him get through this." Genkai informed. She was now looking at the temperature reading. "His fever is up to a 104, if it gets any higher he will be in trouble. His ningen half won't take the consequences."

"What do we do?" The raven haired asked, wanting to help.

"Get me some ice water in a bowl and washcloths…then find the alcohol and anything else you can think of."

"Got it." He said as he ran out of the room and you could hear various noises as he opened and closed cabinets and doors.

Genkai started looking at where the wounds had been. The skin was healed except for a pink area. Reaching in her bag again, she pulled out a bottle of green gel and placed it on the side table before reaching in again to pull out a coarse sponge. Yusuke came back in with the bowl of ice water and washcloths. He handed them to her then left again in search of the other items.

Placing a wet cloth on Kurama's forehead, the master watched as he shivered from the touch of cold. She then placed a wet cloth on the pink area where the wounds had been. This caused the red head to just about jump out of the bed from the sudden touch.

"What!" He hissed as he looked over to see Genkai standing beside his bed.

"Kurama, you've been poisoned. It's not serious as long as we treat your symptoms." She informed.

Kurama calmed back down, saying. "I told him I was fine…this is just like a bad case of the flu. I will be healed in a day or so. I have been poisoned before." He was trying to sound annoyed, but was not doing a very good job as he hissed in discomfort.

"While you were half ningen?" She asked. Showing a little smirk, thinking Yusuke was the dimwit.

"No." Kurama gasped, his voice taking on a little fear as he realized this was not going to be as easy to beat as he thought.

"You will be fine in a few days as long as we get you through the fever. Your demon self would get though it faster, can you change to Youko?" She asked.

Kurama concentrated and heard a voice in the back of his mind. 'You and your higher degree of discipline, I would have been able to start healing immediately if you would have let me out.' The spirit yoko spat.

Kurama told his other half. 'Sorry, I didn't know his claws were poisoned.'

'Well, now it is too late, we are too weak. You are just going to have to deal with it.' With that, Youko was gone.

The red head ended up saying aloud. "Well that is why he is an 'A' class."

"What…there was an 'A' class demon here in Ningenkai?" Genkai said a little shocked to hear that. She had thought by now after the new laws that an 'A' class demon would not be allowed to just come over unless it proved it was not going to cause trouble, which was not likely.

"Long story." Kurama muttered, trying to sit up and with some help, was able to prop himself with pillows.

Yusuke made it back to see Kurama sitting up. "How yeah doing?" He asked, handing the alcohol to Genkai.

"I have been better." The red head replied and seeing his friend's worried expression, added. "I am sorry Yusuke, I did not know this was going to be complicated, how did you know I was sick and how did you get into my home?"

Yusuke shrugged. "Hey no sweat, I wanted to make sure you at least made it to the front door, so I followed you here." He said scratching the back of his neck and thinking back to how much the red head looked like a drunk when he was trying to get his key in the door.

Kurama looked at the raven haired in confusion.

"Don't tell me you don't remember anything." The raven haired said.

"No…I do not." Kurama muttered, looking down in thought.

Genkai spoke up. "Well it doesn't matter now, what matters is that we get that poison out of you as quickly as possible. I have a medicine that will draw it out. You will need to be washed in alcohol before it is applied to places on your body. I will warn you, even though it will help you heal faster, it will not be pretty. You will still be out for a day or so and will be very weak for awhile after." She picked up the alcohol and the rest of the washcloths. Not even caring the red head was completely naked, she pulled the sheet down. "Can you change to Youko?" She asked again.

The red head shook his head. "No, I have become too weak to use the ki needed…so let us begin and get this over with." He stated, not the least bit embarrassed with the master seeing him naked. With all her years of experience, he knew she could careless what he looked like and was only doing what she needed to heal him.

She washed his whole body with the alcohol and he shivered each time she applied the cold liquid. "This will help cool you some so I can apply the gel." She explained then opened the jar of green gel and started applying it to his forehead, underarms, and inner thighs, using the coarse sponge. She added some to his upper chest and neck area. "These are the areas a body sweats most. I put some on your chest because the aroma will help you sleep." She said and watched as his eyes started drooping. She saw a nod of 'thanks' as he drifted off.

"You can turn around now." She said, placing the sheet back to cover the now sleeping red head.

Yusuke had turned his back as soon as he saw the sheet being pulled down. He knew Kurama didn't care about the old lady seeing him in the buff, but he didn't know if the red head wanted him to see. The raven haired turned back around when she spoke, seeing the now covered figure sleeping. "What now?" He asked.

"We wait."

The raven haired spent the time making phone calls. He knew it was early in the morning, but he wanted Keiko to know where he was and what had happened. After listening to her yell about not being there to help open the restaurant, he explained everything. She apologized and offered to come over and help. He told her it was not necessary and promised to call later. He then called Kuwabara, who said he would be right over. Lastly he contacted Koenma, giving him a heads up on the situation and also telling the Lord he would keep in touch.

Genkai spent the time watching Kurama for any signs of problems. So far everything was going well. He was sweating profusely and she wiped it away before applying more gel.

Yusuke was in the living room on the phone when there was a knock on the door. Kuwabara came in looking scared. "How is he, is he alright, what can I do, where is he?" He asked rambling.

"Relax." Yusuke said. "He's upstairs and grandma is looking after him, so far so good." He put an arm around the big guy's shoulder and led him to the stairs.

Kuwabara gulped. "If he hadn't of took that hit, I would be dead from the poison…that's what you said right?" He asked wanting to confirm what he had been told earlier.

"Yeah, grandma says the poison can kill a ningen pretty quickly." Yusuke said as they made it to the top of the stairs and heard Genkai talking softly. When they entered the room, she was standing on the foot stool so she could reach over her patient. She was brushing his hair with her hand as the red head muttered, though the only words they could make out were 'Hiei', 'stay' and 'no.'

After Kurama seemed to fall deeper into sleep, Genkai got down and sat in the chair that had been placed by the bed.

"Does he miss Hiei that much?" She asked, looking down at the floor where Yusuke had sat down with his back against the bed. He looked over to Kuwabara who was also sitting on the floor, his back against the wall.

"I think so." Yusuke said. "He's been acting strange ever since he told me Hiei wasn't coming back." He told them about Kurama wanting to quit being a tantei, his problems with Koenma and how he and Kuwabara rarely saw him outside of missions. He also told them about the meltdown several months ago. "I mean I knew they were close but I think they had been really close. That's why fox boy has been acting the way he has." He finished.

"What do you mean by 'really close'?" Genkai asked, her eyebrow going up at what she thought he might be meaning.

"Urameshi here seems to think they're together." Kuwabara answered.

She turned to look at the orange haired. "Together?"

Kuwabara started sweating and looking funny, he gulped, looking like he was going to be sick. "You know…together together…like dating." He managed to get out.

"It would not surprise me if those two were mates." She said, looking over at the red head.

"Mates…that sounds sick." Kuwabara said trying not to get images in his head, he was failing.

"Idiot." She scolded. "Demons don't care about relationships like ningens. Where ningens look down on same sex relationships, they don't. They will date and mate their own sex as long as they are happy, not caring what anyone else thinks".

"I think I'm going to be sick…excuse me." The orange haired muttered, getting up and leaving the room. Genkai looked to Yusuke as the door shut.

"Don't look at me, if I'm right, I get twenty buck." He said as she glared at him. "Hey, I think it's great that they care for each other. You know how close the two are and how much Hiei changed after they got together. Besides all that… It's none of my business. They're my friends and if they're happy, then so am I. I'm just mad at Hiei right now for not coming back and putting fox boy though this." He admitted.

"Maybe you're not as big of a dimwit as I thought." She said, giving him a small smile.

After Genkai left for a quick run back to the temple to get a few things and check on Yukina. The boys went downstairs to watch the TV, they left the bedroom door open incase Kurama cried out or needed them.

Kurama had heard most of the conversation from the three, it came in short burst of talk, but he got the jest. He was groggy and wanted to go into a deeper sleep, but for some reason couldn't. What seemed like an eternity later, the voices were gone and he felt more of the gel being placed on his body and forehead before everything went quiet. He fell into a dream state and the conversation before brought back memories he wanted to forget.

(dream/flashback)

He had made it back just in time. Yomi had wanted him to attend another meeting that went over his new role in being second in command. He had convinced Yomi to allow him to go back to the ningenkai and take care of a few things first, saying he would be gone for one night only, Yomi had said yes.

The real reason Kurama had gone back was so he could contact Mukuro and ask about Hiei. He knew Yomi would be having him watched, but knew he could work around that. The dream he had had the other night was terrifying in more ways than one. Hiei drowning and not being able to save him and what was with the dragon in the field? The dream seemed so real that he had to know if his best friend was in trouble. Mukuro had been very surprised to hear from the fox, wondering how he did it without Yomi knowing. After hearing about Hiei's fight with someone named Shigure and being told of the details, Mukuro flat out assured the panicked fox that the fire demon was going to be fine. She even told him that she would let Hiei contact him when he was better, but that never happened, for reasons unknown.

Now Kurama walked quickly to the conference room, where he knew everyone was already waiting. As he pushed open the doors, he was surprised to see only Yomi sitting at the head of the table, a small recorder in front of him. The fox's keen ears picked up the voice of himself talking and before he could figure out what conversation it was, it was turned off and Yomi was talking.

"I see you made it back in time. That's good and how is your friend Hiei doing?" The Lord asked with a slight smile on his lips.

"How would I know?" Kurama answered, keeping his body readings as neutral as possible, knowing Yomi could sense things like quickened heartbeats.

"Well…..according to my spies, he was injured by the surgeon known as Shigure and was being treated for his wounds by good old Mukuro."

"I see." Kurama said. He could not help but wonder if the recording Yomi had been playing when he walked in was of the conversation between him and Mukuro. 'How the hell did he get that information? I was being as careful as possible when I made contact.'

Yomi brought him out of his thoughts. "You're doing very well this time in keeping your body in check. I'm starting to have a hard time reading you now. You adapted quickly, but then again, you always have." He had gotten up and was walking towards the red head with the small smile still on his lips.

Kurama stood his ground, waiting.

"Come now. Tell me he's going to be alright. Besides, I've known now for years that you two have been together." Yomi continued and was now standing face to face with the red head.

"I do not know what you mean by 'together' Yomi, but we were just friends, nothing more." The red head hissed, losing his control. He was starting to sweat and trying very hard not to shake. 'What does he want and what game does he want to play?'

"You mean all those times that little fire demon was spending the night at your place in your room was nothing but an innocent sleepover. Now that's hard to believe, knowing the Youko I knew." Yomi said placing his hands in his coat pockets before leaning back against the table.

"I have changed Yomi." Kurama said and took a slight step back, trying to put as much space as possible between them.

Before Kurama knew what had happened, Yomi was behind him and had his arms pinned behind his back. He was then pushed over the table and could feel the weight of the Lord leaning on him.

He felt breath next to his ear as Yomi whispered. "If I were to believe you that would make this body a virgin. Would you like me to believe that?" He gave a slight push. "I will tell you now Kurama, after what you had done to me, I have been dreaming of ways to pay you back. Now if I were to claim you, do you think that little runt would ever want you? Remember…I technically own you now so I would watch myself from this moment on. One false move again and I will have your precious Hiei killed, but not before making sure he saw me claiming you." Yomi gave a hard thrust before letting go and walking calmly out of the room.

Kurama laid there getting his composer together before putting his arms on the table. He hit his head on the table, cursing himself for being frightened and not doing something. 'Damn these ningen emotions.' He scolded himself, standing up and heading to the door with a flash of gold in his eyes. Youko was mad and ready to take action soon if someone else didn't.

(end…dream/flashback)

Kurama sat up looking around his darkened room. Someone had pulled the heavy curtains, making the room almost pitch black. He could hear noises from downstairs, 'the TV' he thought. He was still feeling hot and groggy. 'Why did I have to think about that encounter with Yomi now?' Everything worked out in the end. Before Yomi could hurt Hiei and basically rape him, Yusuke showed up with the tournament offer and that had changed the playing field. He had sent word to Hiei via Mukuro about the death threat and then just stayed away from the bastard Lord for the rest of the time until the event.

The red head lay back down and thought about the event itself. He had made his way quickly through the combatants and then it had come down to him facing that Shigure guy. All that talk about wanting to hear his 'story.' Youko just wanted to flat out kill him and would have if he hadn't taken all his mental strength to force the change back. That was when Kurama realized he really did want to stay in the Ningenkai, wanting nothing to do with the new Makai. But he was damn sure, no matter what. Yomi was not going to win.

After his fight with Shigure was over and Yomi had came to help him off the field. The Lord had the nerve to tell Kurama that he still owned him and that he would still seek his revenge. Kurama just told him he would have to do it in the Ningenkai. Yomi had said that if he were to become is heir he would not seek revenge and that they could have all the time in the world to catch up on what he called 'pleasures.' The fox said 'no' and Yomi said 'we will see' before walking away.

Later after the tournament and everyone was heading home. Kurama got a message directly from Mukuro saying to meet Hiei in the woods not to far from the arena. He told Yusuke goodbye and went to meet the fire demon. That was when everything was said. It had been for the best, Yomi would know that Kurama would return to the Ningenkai and Hiei would stay to become Mukuro's heir. He had to let the little fire demon go with no thought as to there being anything going on between them. He was going to do anything and everything he could to protect his best friend, including the one thing that was going to break his heart, which was walking away to another world.

He heard someone coming upstairs and quickly closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep. He was sick to his stomach thinking about the past and didn't want to talk to anyone. He noticed that whatever gel Genkai had used on him was helping with the ever present headache and he was glad for that. He could feel the presence of Genkai and could sense her looking him over. She wiped away the sweat on his forehead before sitting down on the nearby chair.

a)a)a)a

Kurama's fever broke late that evening and he was now sitting up in bed trying to eat some soup that Yusuke had brought up.

Genkai was still sitting next to the bed. "You will be weak for few days, so take it easy." She said.

"I need to go to work tomorrow. I have already missed today and didn't even get a chance to call and tell someone I wouldn't be in." Kurama said, taking a sip of soup.

Yusuke spoke up. "That's okay fox boy. Someone called this morning and asked for you. I told them you had the flu and that you wouldn't be in." He was coming in the room after seeing Kuwabara out, who had to go and take his exam. He obviously heard Kurama's remark about work.

The red head's head dropped. 'This is going to get the rumor mill really going now.' He sighed.

"Did I do something wrong?" Yusuke asked after seeing the red head lower his head.

Quickly looking up, the red head said. "No…thank you Yusuke, you did the right thing." He stopped any further questions by continuing to eat.

Kurama finally got everyone to leave a few hours later, saying he would be alright now and that Yusuke needed to get home as well as Genkai because of Yukina and Puu.

He promised to take it easy and rest as much as possible. He was going to need it for he was not looking forward to work tomorrow. Having that feeling it was going to be a long day.

End Chapter 7