Lei: Well, I've certainly taken my time updating. Cursed writers block!! –Shakes fist angrily at a block that is labeled "Writers Block"-

Vulpus: Uh…

Lei: What? I need something to use as a prop. Like I use you when I'm writing the really tough scenes…

Vulpus: We are NOT even going to GO INTO what she's put me through just so that she can have her scenes for you people…

Lei: Heh heh heh… well, that was a lot of fake blood that we went through… -giggles with amusement-

Vulpus: I was stained reddish orange for three days!! THREE DAYS!!!!-Tail swishes angrily-

Lei: -giggle- you looked funny and almost matched your hair. Save for that your hair is prettier.

Vulpus: -glare- Leikaru does not own YuYu Hakusho or the characters. Yoshihiro Togashi does. Now lets get on with the story.


Last time:

One last word slipped from his lips before he leapt to his feet and flitted away. One word they all heard as though he had shouted it through a megaphone. The one word that gave them all hope. " Kurama…" and at that moment, they all felt the entering of a familiar ki into the Ningenkai.


Ningenkai

As Hiei neared the spot where he had sensed a faint glimmer of Kurama's ki, it quickly became painfully obvious that the Kitsune was not any where in the area. Instead two very angry demons stood, both drenched in blood. They were bickering, and as Hiei came within hearing range, he could hear with perfect clarity just what it was that had annoyed the two so thoroughly.

"You lost his trail?! You idiot!!" Hiei looked down at the two demons and raised an eyebrow at them. The pair, could not, of course know he was there. Hiei continued to listen to the two.

"It's not my fault!! I told you I wasn't a tracker!!! I'm a fighter!" Hiei snorted in exasperation. And was about to leave when…

"Well I'm NOT going to tell the boss that we lost the stupid Kitsune!!!" Garnett eyes widened in shock, and jumped down in front of the two, scaring them into jumping back and into each other's arms. Especially since the look that the fire Koorime sent them could have sliced and diced, then cooked and deep-fried a piece of metal of the densest configuration.

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?" Each word was snarled out in sharp jagged shards. The demon pair paled. " What. Kitsune. And. What. Did. He. Look. Like?!" this made them pale even further.

The taller demon began to babble and whimper incoherent sounds. The smaller was in shock. Twitching slightly, Hiei grabbed the shorter of the two, and dug his sharp nails into the catatonic fiends shoulder.

" What did the Kitsune look like, you bastard." The hissing was more of a statement then a question. A statement that demanded answers. The demon quickly snapped back to reality, and spilled everything he knew.

" Kitsune… He had red hair in one form and bright emerald green eyes. The other he had silver hair and golden eyes… The boss called him Youko Kurama. That's all I know!!! I swear!!" Hiei smirked nastily. "Please don't kill me!! Please!!!"

" Oh, I won't. You've been very helpful." A sadistic note wormed its way into his voice. And he heard Yusuke and the others come up behind.

"Hiei?"

"Urameshi. You'll be pleased to know that this…buffoon…has been helping detain our Kitsune." Hiei's eyes narrowed into amused slits as similar evil smirks formed over the rest of his comrade's faces.

" Wait a minute!! You promised that you wouldn't kill me!" For it was quite plain that the rest of the group had painful plans for the demon.

"No. I said that I wouldn't kill you. I never said anything about them." And with that, he flitted to the other demon, decapitated its bawling form, and flitted off in search of Kurama. 'Be safe kitsune…be safe…'


Makai

Branches cracked, and plants bent out of the fleeing figures way, quickly sealing back up as he left, attempting to hide the escapee. His breath was now coming in ragged gasps as he suffered from the pain of his wounds, and the dizziness of blood loss.

Drops of blood flowed steadily to the ground in a frantic rain as her an away from his pursuers. He was sure he'd lost at least two of them. But of the two he lost, six still remained, and unfortunately, he was in no condition to fight anyone, let alone six fairly strong, fairly skilled fighters.

But he pressed on, worried for the lack of safe havens he had found. He'd found a portal back the Ningenkai, and almost made it through. But those two demons had attacked, causing him to flee. Hopefully the two had met the demons that had layed not far from that spot. He'd known immediately that Hiei was there, as was Yusuke. But he'd had to run, lest he bring even more trouble back to the Ningenkai. But one thing was certain. Hiei had sensed him. Sensed him and started towards him. Kurama had almost cried with relief that a familiar person was there, but those two! Damn them. If he had the chance, he'd have disposed of them himself.

He came to a dead halt at the edge of a cliff. He had nowhere to go. Trapped like a rat in a maze. He had to laugh quietly to himself. Oh the irony. The Great Youko Kurama had wanted help, and from another demon no less. He was seriously out of character. It had to be the blood loss he thought. Yes. The blood loss was making him delirious. He merely shook his head, and turned to face the beasts that came slinking out of the forest. Yes, he thought. I must be delirious, because I just called them beasts. He laughed out loud at that one. Stopping the demons stalking him dead in their tracks. The could not help but look at the bloody Kitsune like he was crazy, for indeed, who laughed when they were pretty much dead, out numbered, and about to be slain? Obviously crazy they thought.

Kurama smirked and readied himself. But it was a smirk of impending doom that he sensed hovering above his own head. And once more he laughed.


Ningenkai

Hiei flitted to the portal, only to stop dead in his tracks at what he scented. Kurama had definitely been there, and only moments before he had caught the idiot pair. He scowled at the fact that the red head had flown away, rather than stay. Then he thought carefully about it. Perhaps there were more than just those two. That made perfect sense. Yes. Of course! He stepped through the portal, and into the Makai.

" Kurama! I'm coming! Stay alive you bastard!!" with that single shout, Hiei followed the faint trail of Kurama's ki, as well as the ki of six other demons hot in pursuit. When he felt them all stop dead, he could do nothing but speed up in an attempt to help his friend, and the only one he truly cared about other than Yukina.


With Kurama

Standing on the edge of a cliff that stood over three hundred feet high, Kurama could do nothing other than wait for the next attack. Already he had accumulated several additional wounds, and he found his demon form begin to give out. He had no other choice but to revert back to his human form. His already crimson hair turned into a natural shock of red tresses. Made even redder by the blood build up of blood matting his locks.

The demons surrounding him smirked, believing that now they had the advantage. Fools, they'd always had the advantage. Considering Kurama's condition? They should have killed him by now.

No shirt adorned his back, and only a pair of blood stained ripped pants covered his lower half. His bare feet were lacerated, and covered with blood, fresh and old. Various lash marks decorated his chest and back, most of them bleeding profusely because of his escape, not to mention the gashes bedecking his arms and legs that absolutely refused to close, despite his superior healing abilities. And those were just what were visible at the moment. Furthermore, they had nothing to do with his current attackers. They were all from his time as a captive, and none of them looked pretty.

From his round of fighting, a deep gash punctured his chest and abdomen, and if one could actually see for the blood, you would be able to see his ribs showing through the wound. Profound slashes adorned his back and arms, whilst bruises were forming on his neck, and what wasn't covered in flesh wounds.

Kurama, being the strategist he was, had somehow managed to take down on of the opposing enemies. Unfortunately, he didn't have the strength to continue fighting, and soon sunk down to his knees, in an attempt to catch his breath. His death was coming, and the attackers knew this. But at the exact moment they crouched to pounce, a black blur sped from the forest decapitating the fiends before they could blink, and spurting blood over the ground.

Kurama could only whisper in relief.

"Hiei…you…came…"


Hiei had come to the edge of the forest just in time to see a beaten and bloody form sink to the ground, and the attackers crouch. The sight of Kurama's wounded form made Hiei's blood boil, and before thinking twice, he attacked.

Whipping out his sword he swooped down upon them, swinging only once to end their pathetic lives. How DARE they hurt HIS kitsune!! He landed just in time to hear a painful whisper that sounded so joyful.

"Hiei…you…came…" at these words, Kurama collapsed completely. Using his speed, Hiei managed to catch the red head before he ended up injuring himself even more.

And there he sat stroking his Kitsune's bloody locks, taking note of all the injuries present on the slender mans body. Aside from the wounds, Kurama was in poor physical health. His ribs were visible through his skin, and he was even thinner than he had been the last time he had seen his companion. He also noted that he was now taller than his kitsune. Then he paused. His kitsune? He didn't know when he had started thinking of Kurama that way, but some how it seemed right to think of the thief that way. He smiled gently as he cradled Kurama's head in his lap and sat there thinking of how to cart the wounded demon back to the shrine when a crash brought his attention back to the forest.

He glared menacingly at the trees until it was obvious whom it was that was making the noise. From the forest line marched six people. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Yukina, Botan, Koenma and Sniper all exited the wooded area at the same time. And upon seeing Hiei with Kurama in the state he was, rushed over.


Ningenkai

"Thank the gods that we finally found him…" Botan's worried voice sounded in the quiet room where the sat, awaiting any word on how the kitsune was doing.

"I just wish we could have gotten to him sooner!" Yusuke angrily stated as he punched the floor, leaving a dent, as well as scratching his knuckles.

"I'm going to find out who did this, and then we shall dispose of them accordingly." Worry laced with authority resounded from the tiny spirit lord, and Hiei snorted.

"I hope you don't mean you're going to just punish him. Because I will personally wring the unworthy fools neck for even daring to lay a hand on my kitsune." Dead silence followed Hiei's statement. Though not surprised by claiming Kurama as his, the occupants of the room could only wonder what the relation between the Fire Koorime and the Kitsune actually was.

All of the occupants including Hiei himself.


Lei: So? Do you like?? I tried to make it longer this time…

Vulpus: Well, lets hope for the best, and that they like it…

Lei: Reviews would be much appreciated!!!! –kitty eyes- Please??

Vulpus: And this time there was even more fake blood than last time... -pouts-

Lei: Awww!! Don't cry Vulpy!! Maybe I'll bring someone to keep you company!! Like one of my other muses!!!

Vulpus: -looks interested- Whichone?

Lei: Next time Vulpy, next time. Next time I update, I shall have one other muse!! You shall meet the horror of my other muse!!! Mwahahahaha!!!!!

Vulpus: -twitches- Until next time then people... until next time... -twitch-