Kanade woke, wrapped in a blanket and the arms of Kurama, who was leaning against the wall on her bed fast asleep. She sighed in contentment and snuggled closer to the warmth of his body and in his sleep he held her close. She could feel that her legs were draped over his lap and that he held her close at all times. She had faint memories of being with a fox demon, one named Youko a long time ago. She knew she had to find him, her visions were nothing but memories of the infamous Kitsune. Why was it Kurama reminded her of him so much? She suddenly felt horrible for making him stay when he just arrived back to Human World. He must be missing his mother and all she could think of was how she didn't want to be alone.
But she decided that him staying was for the best. There was no way she could face this Hell House by herself. No, she can be selfish this once. She needs him here to help her, even if it's selfish of her. She looked up at his sleeping face and saw how innocent he looked when he was asleep. His features where relaxed and the light glow of the sun made him look handsome and kind. Suddenly a shadow fell over the room and Kanade looked to the window to see a sickly looking man with long hair and bony fingers. The flowers at her window didn't die this time, the man put a barrier around himself so that he could pass through. He smirked at her as she pressed into Kurama, who didn't stir. "He won't be able to wake up while I'm here; my barrier prevents him from noticing my presence. Wonderful right?" the man laughed, his voice annoying and high pitched. "Who are you?" Kanade demanded. The man chuckled and Kanade saw that he was a demon and leapt to her feet, notching a Spirit arrow for flight. "I'm known as Toguro and I am here to take the Dragon Band from you." He chuckled. Kanade shot an arrow at him and his skin moved out of the way and she gasped. At her surprise he chuckled. "Really girl, you should try harder than that. It took all of Kurama's Strength to stop me last time. A tiny arrow isn't going to even scrape me!" He laughed. His Fingers suddenly came forward and lodged themselves into her shoulders and she cried out in pain. Behind her Kurama stirred but didn't wake up. Toguro laughed at her. "The best part of this is that if I'm here even your screams of pain couldn't wake him. It will be fun when I leave you here for him to watch you die." He chuckled. He extended his other hand's fingers out to pierce her heart but he paused right before her chest. "Such a pity. Your heart is already over working itself trying to keep you alive. I think instead of killing you now, I let Karasu do it and let you live in fear until he decided to kill you. Until then give this message to Kurama." He said, taking one of his hands and slamming it into her side, causing her to scream in pain. "Well, I need to go so he can wake up before you bleed to death. Have fun!" Toguro called as he left out the window and Kanade fell on her knees, frozen in pain. As soon as Toguro left Kurama shot awake, panting heavily. He could feel the danger while he was asleep, his body burned from it, trying to wake but all he had managed was a small movement of his head. He heard the familiar pain filled screams of Fiona and it made his blood boil. Whatever was holding him captive let go of him and when he woke he was furious. Kanade was on the floor bleeding to death and Toguro's sent covered the room. Kurama went forward to help her. "Kanade what happened?" he asked, putting his arm around her shoulders but she cried out in pain, flinching away from him. When he withdrew his arm it was coated in blood, the sent identical to Fiona's. "His name was Toguro. He came to give you a message, but he didn't tell me anything to tell you." Kanade said. Kurama's eyes hardened. "I see." He said, his voice becoming that of Youko. Kanade flinched at looked at him.
Did he just sound like?
He pulled a seed from his sleeve and grew it from his hand, taking the leaves and putting one in his mouth before chewing it. Then he took it from his mouth and applied it to Kanade's wounds. She would hiss in pain as he did so but soon she found she was no longer in pain and her wounds were completely healed. "Thank you Kurama." She said when he was done, crushing the plant in his hands. "This is going to far." He said, his voice hard. "What?" She asked. She met his eyes and she saw they were gold, his hair was silver and he had fox ears on his head. His eyes were angry. She gasped in surprise. "Youko." She breathed. He flinched away from her, her resemblance too painful for him. "I will follow them, and kill them." Youko said, standing and going to the window. "No!" Kanade cried, leaping forward and grabbing his hand. He turned to look at her through cold eyes. "What?" he spat. She hesitated but built up courage, causing Youko to inwardly wince at her courage, the same courage of Fiona. "It's what they want you to do. It's a trap!" she said. "I am well aware of that girl. I didn't need you to tell me that." He said. She stepped back, hurt by his remark. "Youko, I just don't want you to get hurt." She said. He yanked his hand away from her. "As if those pitiful excuses for demons could lay a hand on me." he said with a scary chuckle. "Youko please!" Kanade pleaded, tears threatening to spill over. "I know you think you can kill them but it's you they're after. I mean they could have killed me any moment but they didn't. I shot an arrow at Toguro and he didn't even move. His SKIN moved! This guy can't die. And from what the others have said it nearly killed you killing Karasu last time. I can't lose you Youko. You're all I have left!" Kanade cried.
'All I ever had.' She thought.
Tears now streamed down her face. The gold in his eyes vanished and he became Shuichi as he knelt before her. "Kanade." He whispered, resting a hand on her cheek. "Youko, don't go." She whispered. He looked at her face. It was torn in pain and great emotion; her eyes closed trying to keep the tears back. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. "I won't go. I'm sorry Kanade." He said. She opened her eyes in shock at his action. He truly was Youko. "Kurama, I- I'm sorry." She whispered. Kurama hugged her to him, pressing her against his heart. "This is my fault Kanade. These demons should have been killed long ago. It is my fault that they've hurt you." He said. "Kurama I don't know how much of this I can take. First my Father then my sister and mother. Everything I care about is used against me." She cried. He looked at her in understanding. She looked up and met him in the eyes. "I don't want it to happen again. I said it before, I can't lose you. I- I love you." Kurama's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't expect this. She averted her eyes in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" "But you did." He said. She looked up shyly. "Yes, I did. But I shouldn't have-" "It's alright Kanade. I care for you as well." He said, resting a hand on her cheek. Then the phone rang. Kanade wiped her eyes and stood. "I wonder who that could be…" she mumbled, going down to the kitchen where she kept the phone. Kurama followed behind her, her hand gripping his for reassurance he was still there. She picked up the phone. "Hello?" She asked. There was a pause as she listened to the person on the other end. "No, she's not here." She said, hiding the emotion in her voice. "Yes, she's gone." Kurama guessed she was talking about her mother. "Yes I know it's for the best Grandmother. I am glad to be free of her but she was still my mother… I still grieve for her." She said, the tears threatening to return. "Yes I did." Shame was now evident in her voice. "I know I'm going today. I do not expect to return. If I do I will be sure to avoid your family." She said. Kurama's eyes narrowed at this. "I'm sorry Grandmother. I will leave Human world, trust me the chances of my return are slim." She said. She gasped at something her Grandmother said. She began to speak, her voice strained as she spoke around the lump in her throat. "No. I will not try to get myself killed just so you may have revenge. Just because my sister is dead does not mean I have nothing to live for. You'll have to try harder than that to force me into suicide Grandmother. Good bye." And with that she slammed the phone into the receiver and hugged her arms to her body to keep her breaking heart whole. Kurama hugged her to him, furious with this girl's family. "Why do they hate you so much?" He asked. She gave a laugh that scared him. "I'm a half demon. I'm a disgrace to both sides of my family." She looked at him, her face a mask of pain. "Genkai told me who it was who put this band on me. It was my Mother from the start. It was all a way to get me to bend to her will and torture me. My father was never truly evil. My mother had hypnotized him to do all the evil things I've told you about. Can you believe that? Why- how could they do something like that?" She said shakily. Kurama hugged her tighter. "I wish that your demon mother was a kind one and not cruel as you say." He said. Kanade clung to him. "You are Youko." She said. When she felt him stiffen she knew she didn't hallucinate. "What do you know about me?" he asked, pulling away to look in her eyes. "That I knew you once in another life. I have visions of torture and death, but also a silver kitsune, the only person ever to love me." She said. Kurama winced and looked away from her. "I remember I had failed you." He said. She reached her hand out and touched his face, turning his head to face her. "You didn't. You stayed alive for me, and now I found you." She said. She saw tears brimming his eyes as he crushed her body against his in a bear hug. She felt him transform into Youko and he picked her up and cradled her against his chest. Sobs of relief and sorrow raked his body. "Fiona.' He whispered into her hair, the love in his deep voice brought more tears to her eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered to him, burying her face into his neck, his sent unchanged and comforting. "Kanade! Kurama! Come on! Wake up! We need to get going!" Yusuke yelled from the front door. Youko growled and set Kanade down and brushed her bangs from her face and kissed her forehead, then turning back into Kurama. "Let me help you pack." He said. She noted his voice was kinder towards her but at the same time he had gone ridged. Not that she blamed him, they were going to demon world. He helped her pack food and other essentials while she grabbed her cloths. Yusuke continued to bang on the door. "C'mon! We haven't got all freakin day you know!" He yelled. Kanade rolled her eyes and grabbed her glasses case, containing her spare glasses, her last pair. Her mother allowed her to go get them while Kurama was gone. She was grateful now. After packing her things into a blue back pack, Kanade and Kurama opened the door to find Yusuke fuming. "Took you long enough. You do know we have a train to catch right?" he demanded. "A train to demon world?" Kurama asked. "Yeah, pacifier breath couldn't get us a portal to demon world here so we got to go to the next town over." He said. His eyes caught on Kanade's face and noticed the damage. "Damn Kurama what happened to her? You two get into an argument or something?" He asked. Kanade rolled her eyes. "I'm right here you know." She informed him. "Duh, smart ass I knew that." Yusuke said. "We were visited by Toguro." Kurama said, ignoring the bickering. Yusuke's eyes went wide. "So you guys killed him right? Being that you're both alive an all." He said in a soft voice. "No. He escaped. He came while I was asleep and was able to keep me that way while he tortured Kanade." Kurama's voice was dark and Kanade recognized Youko's voice, sending shivers down her spine. "Well damn, Kurama." Yusuke said. That was when Kuwabara ran up. "Hey you guys! Look at what I got Yukina, isn't it pretty!" He exclaimed, presenting a lovely little stuffed pussy cat kitty toy that held a balloon that said: "To My Princess." Kanade giggled. "That's so cute Kuwabara. " She said. Yusuke grabbed the toy from Kuwabara and held it upside down. "Do girl demons go for this kind of thing? It looks stupid to me." he said. "Hey Urameshi you give that back or I'll punch your face in!" Kuwabara yelled. "O yeah?" Yusuke challenged. Soon the two were on the sidewalk, grapping, the toy going flying and Kanade quickly caught it. "I thought you said we had a train to catch." Kurama reminded them. They immediately paused. "O damn! Kuwabara you're gonna make us late and cause the end of us all!" Yusuke yelled, knocking Kuwabara on the head. "Hey, I just wanted to show you what I got Yukina that's all no need to make such a big deal." Kuwabara grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. Kanade giggled lightly. "Alright then, if you two boys are done acting like middle scholars', I believe we have a world to save." She said, handing Kuwabara his toy. "You mean I have a world to save." Yusuke said. "Yes, says the EX Spirit Detective." Hiei said as he appeared out of nowhere as usual. "You mean the one that kicked your ass twice?" Yusuke shot back as he led the group down the sidewalk. Kurama chuckled at that. "What you got to say to that one shorty?" Kuwabara asked. "Silence you oaf, this has nothing to do with you!" Hiei retorted, giving him a death glare. Kanade gasped and turned around. "What is it Kanade?" Kurama asked, concern evident in his voice. "I forgot my medicine. Hey, you guys go on ahead I'll catch up." She said, turning around and walking back to her house. She was surprised when she heard Kurama's footsteps follow her. "Hey you don't have to go with me." she told him as they walked back to her house. "I just found you again, there is no way I am letting you out of my sight." He said with a smile but the tone of his voice and the set of his eyes told her he was dead serious. "Okay." She said with a smile. "Come on I really don't want to keep them waiting." She said, grabbing his hand in her own and pulling him to her house. She opened the door and rummaged through the drawers in the kitchen and found several bottles and put them in her bag. "Now for the real reason I came back." She thought aloud. Going to the closet by the stairs. "And what would that be?" Kurama asked curiously. "This." She said, pulling a katana from the closet. "You plan on using that against demons?" He asked disapprovingly. "Of course! It's my mother's. She put a lot of work into it. See? It is used for fighting demons. My father taught me how to use it." She said. She strapped it on her back under her back pack. "Ok let's go." She said. Kurama gave her a smile and followed her out the door when he felt a presence behind the house, in his house. "You feel that?" Kanade whispered. He moved his head down in a short nod and glared through the glass back door at his house. His mother wasn't home, in fact no one was. "You want to go check it out?" Kanade asked. He nodded and they walked out of the back door. There was the woods on the left of her house that could give perfect cover to any demon who wanted to ambush Kanade or Kurama's house. Kurama pulled out his rose and tool off into the woods, where the demonic energy had disappeared to. Unsure on where he went, Kanade stayed put, poised to shoot a Spirit Arrow. "Kanade, Where's Kurama?" Yusuke called as he and Kuwabara ran up from the front of her house. Hiei appeared next to her, staring into the woods for a moment before taking off. "He went into the woods. We felt a demonic aura." She said. Yusuke grinned wildly. "Perfect. I could use a small work out." He said, rolling up his sleeves and swinging his arm out. "That's not very wise." Kanade said. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded. "Well, it is always unwise to underestimate your opponent." She said. Yusuke rolled his eyes. "There isn't anyone in the world left who can even provide a challenge for me!" he exclaimed, taking off into the woods after Kurama and Hiei. Kanade reached a hand out to stop him but she was too slow. Kuwabara crossed his arms over his chest. "Those guys, too concerned about being a hero that they left the defenseless girl behind alone." He gripped. Kanade whirled around and glared at him. "Defenseless! I beg your pardon!" She yelled. A loud crash echoed through the woods, causing her to flinch a bit. Kuwabara drew his Spirit Sword and stood between her and the woods, nothing but silence in the air. Suddenly, a flash of light came from the woods, momentarily blinding Kanade and Kuwabara and knocked them to the ground. Kanade leapt to her feet and bolted towards the explosion, drawing her katana, Kuwabara not to far behind. Soon she came to a crater in the earth, smoke rising from it and a few trees burning. She gasped, quickly scanning for anyone but finding nothing. "Hey, where did they go?" Kuwabara said shakily. Kanade quickly turned west. "That way! I feel a powerful aura!" she said. Kuwabara nodded and followed behind her as she took off running, her chest throbbing painfully, her breath coming out in short pants. She stopped and bent over coughing, a bit of blood falling on the ground from her mouth. "Hey you okay?" Kuwabara asked, coming to a stop next to her. She wiped her mouth of the blood and stood quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. Come on!" She said, taking off again. The energy was getting closer and just when they were about to close in on it, it disappeared. "Great Heavens, where did it go?" Kanade panted. "Kanade, you're mouth has blood on it are you okay?" Kuwabara asked. "I'm fine Kuwabara. Please, can you feel any of the others? I am afraid I am too weak to sense much." She panted, her hand resting over her chest, spitting out another bit of blood. "I think I feel Yusuke over that way." Kuwabara said, pointing East. "Over there?!" Kanade groaned. "Stay here. I don't think you should run anymore Kanade." He said. She nodded, sitting on the ground and leaning against her katana as he ran off. "I should have taken my medicine this morning." She mumbled. "Kanade, how nice to see you again." Whispered the voice that haunted her nightmares. She leapt up, defensively holding her katana up at Karasu. He chuckled at her action. "Surely you don't intend to fight me." He said. "Not unless you attack me. I know I can not win in a fight against you." She hissed weakly. He leapt down from the tree he stood in and walked toward her, causing her to hold her katana up firmer. "You are too weak girl. Don't even try it. Just give me the band and I'll let you live." He said. "No, I must return this to Demon World." She said in a hard voice. He turned his head East. "A shame I couldn't speak with you longer. It appears people want to interrupt us. I will take my leave. Until we meet again Kanade." He said with a smirk that made her skin crawl in fear. Then he vanished and Kanade slumped against a tree in exhaustion. Not too long after Karasu left did Yusuke show up. "Damn it! Where'd he go Kanade I know he was here!" he demanded. "I don't know, he masked his aura and disappeared." She replied tiredly. "What happened to you? You look like a zombie or something." He said. "Where's Kurama?" she asked, standing up slowly. "He and Hiei went after Toguro." He said. Kuwabara ran up. "Hey Kanade, you feeling better?" He asked. "Yes, I am fine, I told you. Come on, I need to get to Demon World. It will draw the two back there and we can set a trap for them." She said. "Sounds like a plan." Yusuke said, He pulled out a pocket mirror and opened it up. "Hey Botan, tell Kurama and Hiei were heading to Demon World and gonna set a trap for Double Trouble." Yusuke said. "Honestly Yusuke, you could tell them yourself, they have communicators as well!" Botan's voice said. "Just do it, I don't have time to argue with you!" He said, snapping the mirror shut. He replaced it back in his pocket. "Well, let's get moving." He said. Kanade nodded, sheathing her katana and followed Yusuke out of the woods to the train station.