Hiei was now leading the way, with Yuusuke on his heels and Boton and Kuwabara above him. They were ploughing through thick woodland, already forced to run without being able to jump. Hiei was following his instinct, completely disregarding the Jagan as useless against Kurama's ability. For a moment he had considered telling Kuwabara to lead them, as he had the best sense of instinct by far, but Hiei refused to relinquish this hold on Kurama's potential fate. He was sure he was going in the right direction. As soon as they'd entered the woodland he could hear the trees rustling. Some sounded vicious and menacing, but others were softer, gentler, as if encouraging him on. Hiei supposed that they could feel what had happened from Kurama and had taken sides on it. He smiled bitterly. Trees weren't so unlike human fools after all.

"Hiei! Hold up a minute!" Yuusuke called, and Hiei stopped to see Boton standing with Yuusuke while Kuwabara leant against a tree. Hiei turned away and folded his arms. Didn't they understand that the more they waited, the further ahead he'd get? Then again, if Kurama hadn't slept all that night then he may be sleeping through the day.

"I can't afford to wait any longer!" Hiei shouted, and was off again. "I'm only using instinct anyway. Get the buffoon to lead you!" They watched him disappear and sighed. They couldn't decide whether they preferred the old Hiei or not.

Hiei was up in the canopy, leaping from treetop to treetop now he didn't have to wait for Yuusuke and the others. Sure, they were quick, but not quick enough. It was only when he made an effort to look around that he realised just how far they'd actually come. Mountains were throwing themselves into the air all around him, as he was nestled with the trees in the valley. He paused, looking up for the sun. It was already on the horizon. How long had they been running?

Disregarding this, Hiei leapt down through the trees and landed on the floor amid thick, wise old trunks. Their leaves rustled restlessly above him, and he found he could understand their whispered words.

"Animal but not, pain from sin, running and hiding." They chanted together.

"Please! Where did he go?" Hiei asked, knowing they must mean Kurama. What human was animal?

"Red and yellow, hiding but wanting, find him. Find him." They urged, their branches swaying.

"I want to find him, help me! Where is he?" The trees became silent, but after a long pause their leaves rustled into life once more.

"Sleeping but suffering, high up and inside. In the mountain's belly, the fox does reside." The trees finished their words and fell silent once more. This time, though, the forest became eerily quiet. Hiei thought over the trees words. Sleeping and suffering was obvious, but high up and inside? In the mountain's belly…

Hiei sighed and leapt up to the treetops, looking around. There were several mountains surrounding them, but he looked for the closest. He smiled; he was already at the foot of it. With a few powerful leaps that would have him atop a skyscraper in seconds, Hiei was already half way up the perilous slopes. Looking down he saw Boton's yellow Kimono and blue hair whip over the treetops, 

apparently searching for him. He wasn't about to let them interrupt. He leapt up further, and was relieved to find his presence concealed by thick snow clouds. The snow swirled around him, but he only drove himself further forwards. He reached the top of the mountain easily enough, and looked around. In an outcrop of rocks, there was a small opening. Hiei walked over to it and slipped his legs inside, feeling for the bottom. He sighed. It seemed to be a vertical drop down. He hesitated in its opening. He didn't want to stumble in uninvited, but if the fox really was down here, he could hardly let caution get the better of him. He took a deep breath and slipped off the edge. He felt himself fall through darkness for at least ten feet, and then he was grabbed by the ankle. He felt his heart leap and he instinctively unsheathed his sword. He hesitated, what if it was Kurama? The hesitation turned out to be a mistake. Another grip caught his sword arm, squeezing tightly until Hiei cried out, dropping his sword as pain shot up his arm. He grimaced, feeling more tendrils grab him all over, and soon he couldn't move an inch despite his struggles. He felt the plants begin to take him down, and assumed they must have been there to protect the cave from anything coming down. As they came out of the narrow tunnel, Hiei's eyes widened in awe. Before him was a large cavern with a small stream running through its centre. The rocky floor was covered in moss, and all around the chamber were the small plants that glowed like lights. They were definitely Kurama's. Looking around, he spotted a streak of red in the browns and greens. In the furthest corner from the opening, Kurama was curled into a ball against the wall, his body convulsing as if he was having a nightmare. Small whimpers rang out into the chamber, and Hiei felt his heart sink. He'd done that to his fox. He'd caused those noises. Hiei struggled against the plants, but they bit into his skin, tightening their grip. He yelped as one of his arms was twisted back, and Kurama flung himself into sitting. As soon as his eyes settled on Hiei, trussed up and struggling, the binds released him. Almost. One tendril remained around his wrist, the others only inches from his back. Kurama didn't speak, and Hiei almost didn't dare to breath. All his apologies and tears would never make up for that look on Kurama's face. His emerald eyes never left Hiei's body, but they avoided his eyes. Hiei felt a lump form in his throat.

"Kurama…" He whispered, and Kurama leant back against the wall. He tried to speak, but somehow his voice wouldn't obey. "Kurama, I'm so sorry. If I could go back and change it I would. Please. You don't have to forgive me, but I'm sorry. So, so sorry. Kurama's eyes were on the floor. He looked up briefly, and Hiei saw the bright blue bruise over his cheek. He flinched as he recalled that moment on the tape. "Kurama. Please. At least come out and see your mother. She's worried sick about you…"

"Mother…" Kurama echoed quietly, and Hiei felt a spark of hope.

"Yes, Kurama. She's relying on me to bring you back to her. Think about the pain your causing her by doing this. Come with me, let's go to her." Hiei reached out his freehand, but had no hope of reaching Kurama. The distance between was just too great. The tendril on his arm gave a sharp pull and Hiei was pulled back, landing on the floor on his back. He got back to his feet. "Kurama! Please!" He cried, feeling tears fall down his cheeks. "At least look at me properly!"

"If I look, will you leave?" Kurama asked, and Hiei blinked.

"What?"

"If I look into your eyes, will you leave?" Hiei felt a stab of pain, but nodded anyway.



"I will Kurama, I promise." He was hoping that when their eyes met, Kurama would change his mind. Kurama looked up from the floor and emerald met red. Hiei flinched, and Kurama looked away again. His eyes were completely lifeless.

"Leave." Kurama's dull voice sounded across the cave, and Hiei struggled against the bonds that were wrapping themselves around him once again.

"Kurama! I'm sorry, but please! Your mother! At least come back to see her!" He cried out, but was being shoved roughly up the tunnel. He was thrown from the cave into the snow, slipping across the loose material and sliding down the slope. Without a first piece of ground to push off from, Hiei could only watch sky and then snow mix together as he was thrown down the hillside, gaining more and more speed.

"Woa there!" He heard Yuusuke's voice and then felt a strong arm grab him from his fall. Yuusuke set him down on an outcrop of rock and looked at him carefully. "Any luck?" He asked, and Hiei looked at the ground.

"I found him, but there was no luck. He won't leave." Yuusuke sighed.

"Maybe one of us should try?" He asked, but Hiei grabbed his wrist as he started for the top.

"No, Yuusuke." The use of his real name stunned Yuusuke into stopping. "His eyes are dead. We can't just force him out. He wouldn't be our Kurama that way even if we did."

"Sounds like he needs his mother." Boton said softly, and Hiei looked up.

"That's it! He does need her. That's what got the best response. Boton, you can fly fastest with a passenger. Please hurry and get her!" Boton was looking at him as if he were mad.
"Don't be stupid, Hiei! I can't let her fly with me unless she's dead! What would Koenma say?" Hiei grabbed her kimono roughly.

"I don't care what that brat would say! She's going to have to be told the truth anyway! Would you rather leave her miserable, and leave Kurama here to die? I'll go get her myself if I have to!" He spat venomously, and released her. She stood looking at him for a moment, and then materialised her oar.

"Fine, Hiei, have it your way. But I won't be held responsible for this." Boton said, jumping onto her oar and flying over the forest. She was soon out of sight, and they waited in silence. They couldn't do anything without her. If Shiori couldn't bring Kurama back, then no one could.