Hola Chicas! Did ya miss me? Well, I have returned with your chapter. Also I have just one question for you guys….do I suck that much? Can I get some reviews readers? Maybe I do only have like three readers, in which case my three reviewers rock, but I'm hoping for at least 6 reviews before the next update. Gratzi.

Here we go.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Arrows, darts, and spears shot out of the wall on all sides. Unbeknownst to Hiei, however, each weapon was tipped with poison.

Easily flitting out of the way of the flying projectiles, Hiei was forced back to the exit to avoid them. He was surprised when his back hit a stone wall where the door had been. So surprised was he that the fire apparition lost his concentration, if only for a moment.

A dart managed to slip past Hiei's defenses and slice a long but superficial cut on his left arm.

The small demon hissed in pain as the wound burned like fire into his flesh.

"This shouldn't hurt this much."

"It shouldn't but it does." A silky voice floated from deeper in the cave.

"Ahhhh, Ubido….What was on the dart?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." An old thunder demon appeared from the shadows. He was short, only a few inches taller than Hiei, well Hiei's hair actually. The demon had wrinkled dark skin, hair the color of straw, and a plain tunic. From the way he carried himself, Hiei could tell that he had been quite a powerful demon when he was younger, but time had taken its toll, leaving him severely weakened.

"Yes I would."

"I know of your power "Forbidden One. However that cannot save you now. Only I can."

"Fascinating."

"It is, it is. For you see, the venom that is now running through your veins will slowly kill you, sapping away your strength until you waste away. I suppose you want me to tell you of the antidote?"

"Hn. First I need you to tell me where to find Taiya Weed, and then tell me of this new antidote."

"What makes you think that you can tell me what to do?"

"Perhaps this." The fire apparition disappeared for a moment….as did three of the fingers on Ubido's right hand.

"Ack! Alright I'll tell you. The dragon of Red-Eye Valley holds the antidote. The venom held in its teeth will cure your ailment. As for Taiya Weed………."

"Do you want to lose the entire hand this time?"

"No! It….it is at the bottom of the lake in the village of Bacern. Taiya Weed is a misnomer; it is actually a bright blue lichen!"

Hiei smirked, this was easier than he thought………..until he thought some more. He was a fire demon; he couldn't possibly get to the bottom of a lake. I'll have to call—he groaned, the bakas.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Back at Genkai's, Kurama was not doing any better. He had now bled through two more sets of bandages. Genkai and Yukina were getting worried.

Yusuke was still holding his vigil at the wounded fox's side, but he too, was loosing hope.

"Wha—what!" Yusuke had been awakened by his new Communication Mirror buzzing loudly in his pocket.

"Um, hello?"

"Yusuke it's me you idiot."

"Oh hey, Hiei. Find the Taiya Weed?"

"Erm. I am going to need assistance in getting it."

"So you need me to come out there."

"Well, yes, but I don't want to leave the fox completely unprotected."

"Kuwabara will be here."

"Hn. Like I just said, I do not want to leave the fox completely unprotected."

"Well if you want me to send the idiot to Makai—"

"NO! The last thing I need is that moron out here."

"Well then, I guess I'm coming…I mean Genkai will still be here."

"Hn."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Hn."

"Can you tell me where the portal is?"

"In a park about 5 miles from here, behind some bushes."

"Geez Hiei, good thing you didn't give me vague directions or else this would be really difficult."

"Shut up you baka. I don't know any ningen landmarks. Use your Spirit Awareness or get the fool to help you."

"Alright, alright. I'll be there in half an hour."

"Hn."

The fire apparition's face disappeared from the screen.

"Genkai!"

The aging psychic ran into the room with Yukina hot on her heels.

"What, what is it!"

"Whoa, calm down Grandma, Kurama's fin—doesn't have any new wounds, but Hiei needs some help in Makai, so I have to go. Call Kuwabara and have him come over, I don't want to leave Kurama 'completely unprotected.'"

The two healers nodded and Yusuke knelt next to the injured kitsune.

"Now don't you go dying on me. You'd better still be here when me and Hiei get back." Giving Kurama's hand one final squeeze, he stood up and left the temple.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Kurama was still in the swirling mist. He had long since stopped yelling for his friends and was now curled in on himself.

The mist started to disappear.

'Not again.'

This time he was at the ring on Hanging Neck Island. He was alone on his side, but he could hear his opponents on the opposite side of the ring. He focused his eyes on the three figures and gasped.

"No."

"Yes, Kurama. Do you think we would remain friends with such a weak ningen such as yourself?"

The fox found himself looking at the rest of his team. Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara shared the same smirk as they looked at him.

Koto appeared out of nowhere.

"The first fight will be Kuwabara vs. Kurama, and BEGIN!"

The orange-haired teen walked proudly into the ring, as did Kurama, though the latter was more reluctant.

"Kuwabara don't do this, I don't want to fight you."

"You don't want to fight because you think you'll lose."

"No, that's not it at all."

"I've had enough of your crap, let's fight."

Kuwabara summoned his Spirit Sword and lunged at Kurama. The redhead easily leapt out of the way even with his shoulder would from Kuronue.

The human kept advancing on the fox, who refused to hurt his friend. However, as the fight went on and Kuwabara kept refusing to listen to reason, Kurama saw no other way around it.

He summoned his Rose Whip, and aimed at a non-lethal area on the teen's body. He had just lashed the whip to knock the ningen out when Kuwabara's Spirit Sword came out of nowhere.

This caused the kitsune's hand to jerk just a little to the right, which caused the Rose Whip to hit Kuwabara in a very different location.

The throat.

Kurama gasped as the teen's air passages was torn open. Kuwabara could no longer breathe, and now Kurama could no longer move, so shocked was he.

The human's body convulsed for a few moments, and then went limp. His eyes stared unseeing into death.

The kitsune fell to his knees, unable to register that he had just killed one of his best friends.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Back in Makai, Hiei was impatiently waiting for Yusuke to arrive. After ten more minutes of pacing a large yelling form fell from the portal.

"You're late."

"Ya well, traffic was a bitch."

"We've got to get to Bacern. It's about 14 miles to the north. We should get there before sunset."

"Why before sunset?"

"Judging from your tired appearance, Kurama must not be doing to well. I hope to get the antidote for him before tomorrow morning."

"Ya, okay."

Hiei turned to the north, preparing to leave, when his world spun. Everything was spinning and it made him dizzy. He stumbled to the right, and when he finally regained his bearings, the fire apparition felt considerably weaker than he had been before.

"Yo Hiei, are your alright?"

"I'm fine."

And with that the small demon flitted off in the direction of Bacern, leaving a very confused Yusuke in his wake.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

So….what did ya think? If it sucks, please tell me, I'll stop before I get ahead of myself. Anyways, please leave a review, they make me feel warm and fuzzy -

Hugs, MM

P.S. Why did no one tell me there was a major mistake in the story! Well I'm not gonna tell you what it is now, other than I'm gonna fix it right…….now.