I re-read this story and I didn't realize before that this is actually really good. Yay, go me! Alright so, what is with me enjoying to slit Keaka's throat? I have no idea; forgive me my poor OC baby girl! Oh yeah, anyone ever heard of the risembool rangers or the miniskirt army? These are the official web sites of Vic (cant type his last name) who was the VA for Ed Elric and Travis Willingham (the sexy Colonel Mustang) fan sites that they check regularly, can you guess whose site is whose? Any way they are both always accepting new members so choose your side and join up today! Personally I'm a ranger….

The phone rang waking Kurama from his sound sleep. The instant his eyes opened he sensed a disturbance around him that unnerved him. He glanced at Kuraki as he sat up letting out a shaky breath but still he found no comfort. He reached over and grasped the receiver bringing it to his ear.

"Otaka residence." He answered.

"Shuichi? Oh sweetie listen carefully…" His mother said frantically. Kurama's eyes widened as her words reached his ears and his breath hitched in his throat. He slammed the receiver back down into it's cradle and hurridly jumped out of bed pulling his clothes on roughly.

Kurama what's wrong?" Kuraki asked sleepily. Kurama glanced at his lover taking in his half lidded expression as he yawned.

"Keaka was attacked. Most likely from a demon seeking vengeance, I must go to the hospital." Kurama said as he pulled his arms through his shirt.

"Koi, stay; she'll be fine." Kuraki said. Kurama shook his head.

"I don't believe so. From what my mother said her injuries are grave, she is critical. I must go to her." Kurama replied.

"Why?" Kuraki asked sitting up. Kurama gave him a startled glance.

"Because she is my friend and that's what friends are for Kuraki. They are there for the other through good and bad; this definitely constitutes as the bad. Care to accompany me?" Kurama asked as he stood in the doorway of Kuraki's bed room. Kuraki stared at him hurt evident on his face but in Kurama's rushed state he hardly noticed. Kuraki sighed and nodded his head knowing he had to guard himself carefully around her friends.

The elevator ride to the intensive care unit was long and excrutiating. The worried expression that Kurama held on his face unnerved Kuraki no matter how many small hugs the hanyo gave him or short assuring smiles. The doors opened and they walked down the hallway catching a glimpse of the waiting room. Shizeru sat staring out the window her lower lip trembling visibly as Botan and Keiko held her hand and tried reassuring her. Kuwabara sat with his hands against his face and his head hung low as his shoulders shook from his sobs. Yusuke spoke gently to his friend with a compassionate hand on his shoulder. Kurama glanced to the farthest corner of the room to see even Hiei standing there his mouth drawn down as his eyes blazed hot murder.

"What is her condition?" Kurama asked as he walked in the room with Kuraki close behind. All eyes turned on them as they entered and the silence became unsettling. Kurama felt hot tears form in his eyes.

"I'm not too late am I?" He asked fear clutching his heart and seizing it constricting his breathing.

"Keaka's alive but she's on life support." Hiei said the first to speak up his voice uncharacteristically choked.

"The doctors say she lost a lot of blood and it's a miracle she made it even to the hospital let alone lived this long." Botan said meekly.

"Miracle? Please give me a break Botan, Keaka's gonna bite this in the ass just watch. That girl doesn't take any crap and this is no different from any other fight she's ever been in." Yusuke said confidently as he clenched his fist his eyes closing tightly. Kurama let out a sigh rubbing a hand across his face exhausted from the emotional stress.

"May I please speak with the Kuwabara family?" All eyes looked up to see the doctor stand before them his face grave.

"We're all friends and family of Kesaki." Shizeru said standing up abruptly. "So what's the news doc?"

"I'm just going to get to the point with out sugar coating it for any of you. Kesaki is not responding to the blood transfusion we gave her, her heart has stopped beating forcing us to attach a cardiac stimulator to her chest, she is on ventilation as well. I highly doubt she will make it through the next few hours."

"Is it time to say our good-byes then?" Kurama asked. The doctor nodded his head once taking in sympathetically the gasps and small cries made by the small group.

"I truly am sorry but there is simply nothing more we can do." He said and exited the room. Kuraki slunk somewhat behind Kurama trying to shut out the sounds of soft whimpers and sobs.

"Well bro, doctors orders." Shizeru said choking back tears. She grasped her younger brother by the hand as he stood both walking down the corridor to the hospital room.

"Why would anyone want to hurt Keaka like this?" Keiko cried into her hands. Botan put an arm around her shoulder for comfort as tears slid down her cheeks.

"Damn it! Who ever did this is going to pay. I swear Keaka, I'll get the bastard that did this to you." Yusuke growled out clenching his hands into fists. "What a time for that old hag to be out of town."

"We'll think about revenge later Yusuke right now we should focus on Keaka and our good-byes." Kurama said forever the voice of reason even in a tragedy.

"DAMNIT HIEI! OPEN THE FRIGIN DOOR!" Kuwabara's loud voice could be heard through out the entire wing and quite possibly the two floors they were sandwiched in between. Kurama let go of Kuraki's hand and ran over.

"What's going on?" He asked concerned.

"Hiei's gone and barricaded himself in there with Kesaki." Shizeru said as she pounded on the door along side her brother.

"Both of you go back to the waiting room. I will take care of this." Kurama said his curiosity peaking. Both Kuwabaras turned to stare at him their faces full of rage.

"Listen Kurama my baby sister is in there dieing! I'm not going to miss my opportunity to say good-bye because Hiei is being a selfish jerk!" Shizeru shouted.

"I understand you're anger. You're both distraught over the situation as we all are. Please give me a few moments and I can assure that you will be able to say you're proper good-byes." He replied taking Shizeru by the hand leading her away from the door.

"Promise?" She asked through her tears. Kurama shook his head.

"I swear it." Kurama replied. Shizeru slowly nodded her head.

"Come on Kazuma, lets go back to the waiting room." She said once again taking her brother by the hand and leading him away. Kurama searched out the barrier that Hiei had erected startled at how weak it truly was.

'That's so very unlike him. He must be severely distraught over the entire situation.' Kurama thought as he raised his energy slightly neatly slicing through Hiei's energry barricade. He opened the door and was shocked at the sight that met his eyes. Besides the fact that Keaka was on a ventilator that consisted of a large hose going into her mouth and a smaller tube out of her nose, wires hooked underneath the hospital garment she wore recording her heart rate. Two I.V bags hung by her bed side, one filled with regular saline solution and the other blood. Hiei held onto her one free hand with his head bent towards hers. His shoulders shook as sobs racked his body.

"Didn't you wonder how she got over you so quickly Kurama?" Hiei asked his voice choking as he did so. Kurama took a step forward to stand next to his friends staying silent.

"After you left that day, Keaka was over whelmed by grief. So much that she actually took a razor to her arms but I stopped her from doing anything to harm herself."

"I see now. You and Keaka are…"

"No, we're not lovers. We're what she called 'boy friend, girl friend'" Hiei said. Kurama nodded his head once.

"Trust me when I tell you I know how you feel Hiei however everyone deserves the right to say good-bye. Not just you." Kurama stated as he went over to the other side of the bed. Kurama gazed down at his friend. Dried blood caked her hair making it brittle to the touch, it's coppery aroma making Kurama feel sick when another scent hit him. He bent closer to the girl inhaling deeply.

"That scent…I know that scent but from where?" Kurama wondered aloud. 'There was an attempt to mask it but still it is there.' Kurama thought to himself. Hiei watched as Kurama's eyes shut and he continued to breathe in the aroma.

"Demon but that's as far as I got." Hiei said. Kurama stood back up with the scent memorized knowing if he came across it again he would recognize it but still it's familiarity plagued him. Hiei sighed giving her hand a final squeeze and leaned over placing his lips against her forehead.

"Gomen na-sai. Aishteru." He whispered before releasing her hand and seemingly disappeared to mourn elsewhere. Kurama took in his friend resigned to the fact it would be the last time he saw her alive, if what she was could be called alive, kissed her forehead as well and left the room trying to fight off the tears that burned hot under his lids.

"It's been taken care of." Kurama said as he entered the waiting room. Shizeru and Kuwabara stood up gone before he could finish his sentence. Kurama left the waiting area with Kuraki hot on his heels.

"Koi.." He began. Kurama didn't glance back at him just headed for the elevators.

"Let's be on our way." He said his voice low and dangerous.

"Don't you want to…" Kuraki began. Kurama entered the elevator car still keeping his back turned.

"I have already said my good-byes. It's pointless to stick around any longer." He replied. The doors shut and Kurama crumbled to the floor in a heap.

"Kurama!" Kuraki shouted in his side in a flash holding the other to him.

"I let her down, everyone who has ever cared for me; I always let them down. I'm poison." Kurama sobbed against his lovers chest.

"No you're not." Kuraki said laying a soft kiss against Kurama's trembling lips. Kuraki wiped Kurama's tears away gently placing his forehead against his to stare into the others eyes. "This is not you're fault." He said his voice cracking as tears trickled down his face. "And I'm so sorry koi." Kurama buried his head in Kuraki's shoulder as his sobs continued. Kuraki shut his eyes tightly the words burning hot on his tongue to confess what he had planned with his mother but found them stuck in his throat.