Ethan looked towards the door, putting a finger to his lips hastily with his free hand – his other hand was being held by one hand of the sleeping Chloe on the bed. His eyes flitted to Haru. "What are they doing here?" His voice was commanding, but didn't raise about a whisper.

Haru sighed, blinking a few times. "They took after me on the street." He shrugged, passing a hand over his eyes.

Ethan noticed the action. "Shuiichi, would you mind catching him before he falls?"

Kurama looked at the swaying boy, catching him just as he toppled towards the ground. "What's wrong with him?" The red head asked with a quiet voice.

"I'm fine." Haru wheezed, pushing weakly against his helper.

Ethan looked back down at Chloe for a moment. "She scratched herself up in the forest, didn't realize that Makai plants are ninety-percent harmful to humans. She didn't stand a chance of surviving what with her immune system as weakened as it was. Haru volunteered and we transferred the problem to him; his immune system was still in perfect health, so he should be able to fight it just fine."

"If you'd brought me instead of hiding from us I could have given her the antidote sooner." Kurama propped Haru up in a chair, resting a hand against the boy's forehead.

Haru pushed Kurama's hand away, shuddering weakly. "I'll be fine, really. It just came on so swiftly my immune system is having to play catch up."

"See? He'll be fine." Ethan reached down and brushed some hair out of Chloe's face lovingly. She was still cold, but a good rest and the warm blankets would soon put her to right.

"He needs help." Carmen spoke up, eyes turned on Ethan almost…angrily. "Were you really just going to let him suffer on and hope he survived? Good gods man, there are some plants in that forest that are LETHAL to humans. Were you really unaware of this, or just stupid?" She asked cuttingly. The only reason she was upset was because Haru was Chloe's rock in all the craziness around her. If he died there would be hell to pay, and Chloe just might go off the deep end.

Ethan's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "All intelligence I'd heard of the forest contained reports of harmful plants, but nothing more than mildly harmful to humans." He knew as well as they that Haru was Chloe's best friend.

"I'll be fine, honestly." Haru tried to smile strongly, but instead bent over coughing violently.

Kurama stood, pausing by Carmen's side. "Keep him warm, get him drinking as much water as he can stand – I'll be back." He disappeared out the door.

Carmen walked over to the bed and ripped a blanket off it. Noting Ethan's look of protest she pointed out coolly "She'd rather lose a little warmth than let her best friend die."

She walked back to Haru, taking his arm and moving him so he was sitting on the floor against the wall – that way he wouldn't have to try and balance on a chair. She wrapped the blanket snugly around him, tilting his chin up so she could look in his eyes. "Hang in there bud." She patted his cheek, standing up. She walked to the tray of food, presumably brought for Chloe, and took the glass and pitcher of water before returning to Haru's side. She knelt down beside him, filling the glass and holding it to his lips. "Drink what you can."

He swallowed it down thirstily, pulling away in a coughing fit. He smiled wanly. "Thanks." He leaned his head back against the wall, slowly nodding off.

"Stay awake." Carmen slapped his cheek firmly, but gently. "You gotta stay awake, especially since we don't know what infected you, er, her."

"Carmen?" Chloe sat up, letting go of Ethan's hand. She blinked rapidly to try and adjust her eyes to the light.

Carmen smirked and waved. "Down here, sleepin' beauty."

Chloe looked visibly relieved to see her, then her eyes widened. "What's the matter with Haru?" She swung her legs over the side of the bed to get up.

"Hold on, he's going to be fine." Ethan reassured her, using an arm to stop her.

Chloe didn't spare him a glance; she shoved his arm out of her way and knelt by Haru. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly as she looked into his flushed face.

"Got on the wrong side of a Makai plant." Haru joked, pulling out a hand and patting one of her's. "Shuiichi'll fix me up real soon here, don't fret."

"But you look so… so ill." She fretted, squeezing his hand. "You look like..well, like I felt when you found me out in the forest." Her eyes widened. "Did I get you sick?" She asked, horrified.

Carmen covered her mouth to stifle a snort. Chloe was so absurdly naïve and…human.

"No, it wasn't your fault." Ethan reassured her. "I transferred your illness to him so you wouldn't-"

"You gave him my illness?" Her brown eyes turned accusingly on her brother. "Why would you do such a thing? I may not like bearing other people's burdens, but I certainly won't stand for you bestowing my burdens on others." She chastised, sitting next to Haru and pulling his head onto her shoulder. "Just rest." She held his hand in her's, squeezing it reassuringly.

Haru gave up and closed his eyes. She wasn't usually so forceful and determined, but then again she'd been through quite a bit recently. Whatever. He took a deep breath, quickly falling further into the depths of unconsciousness.

Kurama returned, a ripple of relief at seeing Chloe awake and looking well. She had Haru's head in her lap now, her hands unconsciously stroking his hair as she stared at the wall. Carmen was sitting at the table with her feet propped on the chair, her golden eye's piercing gaze trained on Ethan, who was still sitting by the bed. There were many questions for Ethan, but right now Haru was more important.

Chloe watched him as he knelt close by, unwrapping the cloth in his hand revealing some herbs. "Wake him up in a few minutes. I just need some hot water." Kurama looked to Carmen. She rolled her eyes. "All right, I'll play maid." She disappeared out the door. Kurama placed a hand on Chloe's forehead. "No sign of fever." He smiled reassuringly. "How do you feel?" She dropped her gaze. "Physically or mentally?" She wondered aloud, smiling wryly.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" He tried to catch her gaze.

"Nothing." She shook her head. "I feel fine. Haru's the sick one." Her lower lip trembled as he coughed violently, but didn't wake up. "I can't lose him Shuiichi….I can't." Her voice shook. She'd never seen Haru sick for one single day of his life. Now he was so pale, so cold. She couldn't almost imagine she could feel the life slipping right out of him.

"He's not dying, Chloe." Kurama slipped and used her first name, reached out impulsively and placed his hand over hers. "He's going to be just fine."

"Do you promise?" She asked, meeting his gaze finally with her troubled brown eyes.

Kurama felt himself trapped. He would not make a promise about something he had little control over. "I can't promise that. But I can promise I'll try my hardest to keep him here."

She didn't seem much comforted.

Ethan watched the exchange before standing and walking over to the window. "I'm sorry Chlo." He turned his head slightly towards her. "I didn't realize what kind of plants were in that forest. He told me- well, that doesn't matter. I messed up, and I'm sorry."

Kurama could hear the sincerity in her brother's voice. He had a feeling in his gut that made him uneasy, but he couldn't deny the fact that at the moment Ethan didn't seem any more harmless than a normal protective brother.

Chloe looked up, her face easing a little. "It's not your fault, Ethan. He should have been more careful."

Carmen pushed through the door, a mug of steaming water in her hand. "Here. I had to kill three guys to get that, so don't waste it." She handed it to Kurama before returning to her position at the table.

Chloe's eyes widened. "You-you killed for that?"

Carmen snorted. "Don't be so naïve, Chloe. You're never going to survive…" She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Chloe's cheeks burned. She couldn't tell half the time when Carmen was joking because, well, she was just as serious.

Kurama stirred in the leaves, and pretty soon a sweet aroma began drifting through the room. "Wake him up."

Chloe shook Haru's shoulder gently. "Haru? Haru, you have to wake up."

He stirred, one eyelid creeping open tiredly. "Why?" He mumbled, sitting up with her help.

"Drink this." Kurama held the mug to his lips.

"Why?" He asked again, weakly pulling his head away.

Chloe rubbed his arm. "Just trust him. It'll help you feel better."

Haru eyed Kurama suspiciously a moment before bringing a hand up to the mug. He'd drink it, but he'd damn well drink it by himself. He finished it off, coughing because of the horrid aftertaste it left in his mouth. "That better have been worth it." His brow creased as he felt a strange drowsiness creeping over him. "Son of a…" He slumped over, unconscious.

"Haru?" Chloe exclaimed, catching him.

"He's all right." Kurama hefted the boy up and onto the bed. "I gave him something to make him sleep. He'll need it so the poison doesn't spread."

"Poison?" Chloe's eyes widened again as she looked at Haru. "Nobody said-"

"Raw plant poison, Chlo, from that forest you were in. No one's trying to do him in." Ethan assured her, leaning back against the windowsill.

"Oh." Chloe moved to the chair by the bed, turning to face everyone. She could feel the awkward tension in the air, but wasn't sure what to do about it. "How did you guys find me?" She asked finally, looking at Carmen, but not daring to look at Kurama.

Carmen sighed, standing up suddenly. "Ethan, may I talk with you? Alone."

Ethan turned his gaze on her, eyeing her up and down as if sizing her up. "Very well." He followed her out the room, shutting the door with a decided click.

Chloe stood and walked over to the food tray, still not looking at Kurama. She felt a welling in her chest that she was trying hard to stifle. "H-how did you find me?" She bit her lower lip self-consciously, picking at the food half-heartedly.

"We followed your scent. We lost it here in town just before we found Haru, and he guided us here."

"My scent?" She wrinkled her nose. "Well, what else should I expect here." Her shoulders slumped a little and she put the food down. "They were going to take me away from it all." She blurted, not know what was spurring her to speak so openly to him. Her lower lip trembled as she hurried on. "They were going to take me someplace safe until this had all blown over. They were going to give the shard back to you and Carmen – then you'd have no more need to find me."

Kurama turned to her, feeling a storm was breaking and so, unsure how to navigate safely, he asked cautiously. "You wanted that." It was more a statement than a question.

"I don't want to be here!" She burst out, the tears spilling over as well. "I'm not cut out for peril, for dangerous situations. I never wanted to be the hero. I want to go home. I want to be safe again. I don't want to be in constant fear that beings more powerful than me could kill me or torture me at their convenience. I want security again!" She cried, the tears running freely down her cheeks.

Kurama hesitantly reached out. "I know it's intimidating Miss Scott, but-"

"Intimidating?" She whispered, turning her brimming eyes on him. "I'm terrified!" She buried her face in his chest, her hands gripping into his shirt tightly.

He froze as she pressed against him, not sure what to do. Finally he sank down into the chair, pulling her back to look at him. "You're right, this is a horrible situation – a terrifying one from your position. But please believe me when I say that it isn't all that bad, actually. I've been in many worse than yours." He tried to catch her brown eyes to comfort her. "I promise you Miss Scott, I-"

"Chloe."

"Pardon?"

"Don't call me 'Miss Scott'. My name's Chloe."

He looked at her a moment, not sure if he could do that. If he started calling her by her first name, he might begin to grow too attached. But then again, it might help her trust him more. Yes, that was what would happen. That was all that would happen. "Very well, Chloe. I promise that I will defend you even to death."

Her brows furrowed and she shook her head. "No. Don't die for me. I could never live with myself." The last few tears trickled down her cheeks. "I'd rather die than know that you were…" She trailed off, lost in his eyes. Suddenly she realized what she was doing and her cheeks burning, turning a flaming scarlet before she could turn hastily away. "I-I'm sorry." She stuttered, trying to recompose herself.

Kurama swallowed hard. "I should go check on Carmen and your brother." He stood gracefully and moved out of the room.

'He's not even phased.' She thought, a little resentfully. Unrequited love sucked.

Kurama leaned back against the door, taking a few deeps breaths. When she'd looked in his eyes with her dark brown gaze, his heart had fluttered inexplicably. He turned down the hallway, stopping short. Quietly he slipped back in the room, a curious expression on his face. "Have your brother and Carmen ever met?" He asked.

Chloe glanced at him but her cheeks were still burning. "I-I have no idea anymore. She's never spoken of him. Why?"

"No reason." He gazed thoughtfully at the floor, moving over to the bed. "He'll probably sleep for a few more hours yet. You should probably get some more rest as well." He moved Haru closer to the wall, leaving room for Chloe's small frame beside the boy.

Chloe crawled under the covers, facing Haru, and closed her eyes, not daring to look at Kurama.

Shuiichi watched her for a minute before walking over to the window to look out. His green eyes stared into the distance as his mind churned over the latest developments.

"Are they sleeping?" Carmen asked of the figure at the window, pulling her braid over her shoulder and settling down in the chair.

Kurama barely stirred. "Yes."

"Then we're free to discuss what is to be done."

"I assume by discuss you mean you're going to tell me what you have in mind."

"Perhaps." She smiled coyly, sinking down into a chair and crossing her legs. "Her brother wants to take her to Shangri La."

He turned around, looked completely disbelieving. "Shangri La? But that's just a fable – a myth."

"He claims to have been there. Says she'd be safe until it all blew over."

"And you believe him?"

"I don't know she'd be safe anywhere in this," he restrained a few choice words describing Makai "place." He finished lamely. "Not so long as she has the shard."

"And is involved with me?" Carmen arched an eyebrow. "She will not come to harm."

"But can you guarantee that? Completely? Come Carmen, not even I could give that kind of reassurance."

Carmen snorted and got to her feet. "Not even you? You may have been great once Kurama, but that was a long time ago." She emphasized the word long. "Younger, ambitious demons have taken your pedestal."

Kurama felt the sting, but something inside him stirred. He turned to face her, his eyes flashing golden. "Don't make the mistake of thinking my powers have diminished. I may have grown more cautious and unwilling to enter battles unnecessarily, but I can still end you or anyone else should the need arise."

Carmen didn't flinch as she held his gaze. "A hesitant decision may cost her life." She returned – not forcefully, not accusingly, but honestly.

Kurama knew she was right. "Don't worry – I'll be ready when something happens."

She rolled her eyes. "Right. Right now we have more pressing matters than the state of your pride. We need to get going if we're going to find Shangri La." She took one step before Kurama grabbed her arm.

"Let them be. They could use the rest. She's not exactly in the most stable mental condition at present."

Carmen's jaw tightened, but she stepped back and sat down. "What did that Mayuri woman have against you?" She asked, picking up an apple from the tray and biting into it.

Kurama turned back to the window. "An enemy from my past."

Carmen snorted crudely. "Cha, I gathered that much." Her eyes remained trained on him. "She obviously had some huge beef with you. And her power is definitely unique. I've never heard of that type of ability. Tell me about her."

Kurama said nothing. "You know as much as you need to know."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"When it becomes relevant, I'll let you know more about her." He responded calmly, playing at her own game of secrecy – he'd been keeping secrets long before she was ever even thought of.

"Shuiichi?"

The red head turned his head, his green eyes meeting Chloe's soft brown gaze. "Yes?" His voice was low, but not rumbling. The others were sleeping – she was supposed to be as well.

"Why did Carmen choose me?" It wasn't resentful, it was just curiosity.

Kurama smiled wryly, forgetting she wouldn't be able to see it in the perfect darkness with her human eyes. "If I knew the answer to that question you wouldn't be here." He replied honestly. "I'm sure she'll reveal her purpose when she feels it is time."

"Why didn't she just ask you to hold it?"

Kurama rolled onto his back and looked up at the stars. "Frankly, I wouldn't have done it. I have no particular ties to Carmen, and this life is one that I've tried very hard to separate myself from."

"Did you know her before this?"

He shook his head. "Not personally. Mostly through hearsay."

Chloe sighed. "I just wish I knew what she wanted with me. When we first met she hit me when I was going to scream, then apologized and said she had only planned to pop in while I was sleeping till the me- demons left. Then all of a sudden she told me I had to hide the box, which I later found contained the shard, until she chose to take it from my keeping. Now I can't seem to get rid of it or her."

Kurama digested this information. Was Carmen really playing it all by ear? He wouldn't put it past her, but still, it seemed very haphazard to include a human girl into her scheme's. Unless… his jaw set and a dark look entered his eyes. Unless her reason for involving Chloe was so he wouldn't have a choice but to help her. "Manipulative bitch." He spat, standing up.

Chloe sat up, eyes wide. "Wh-what?" She stuttered, suddenly afraid of the anger she could feel rolling off him.

Kurama caught himself; he couldn't do anything right now, not with Chloe watching. "I'm sorry." He relaxed, hiding his rage at having been neatly trapped. He could see the tension in the girl's body; he crouched in front of her, catching her gaze. "Chloe, look in my eyes."

Her eyes had widened just at his having called her Chloe, again, to her face. She felt like she was walking on air as she stared into his green gaze.

"I would never harm you, do you understand that?"

She bit her lip, and nodded hesitantly.

He moved without thinking and placed his hand over her's. "I am nothing like Carmen. We share species only. I would never hurt you on purpose."

Chloe could feel the sincerity in his voice sinking into her brain. "I-I believe you." She whispered, unable to tear her eyes from his gaze.

"If she ever hurts you again, I want you to come to me. I will not tolerate her abusing you, understand?"

Chloe opened her mouth to protest that it had only been that one time, but the words died on her lips. "Okay." She said instead, drawn to his caring tone. She wasn't sure if it was the proximity, or the sudden warmth coming from him, but impulsively she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "Thank you." She whispered, lying back down and rolling over to hide the glowing smile spreading across her lips.

Kurama gazed at her for a minute longer before also lying back down. But his head was not easy – nor was his heart, if he could be perfectly honest…

"Attention!"

Five heads snapped to attention.

"The time has finally come – the moment you have been training for your entire lives."

"Yes master!"

An evil smile. "You are all experts on your target; you know her better than she knows herself. You cannot fail."

"Yes master!"

"Make me proud." A flick of a hand. "Bring me her body – bring me Carmen's corpse!"

The fire had died low hours ago. Light was just beginning to chase away the shadows around the realm. Carmen was sitting up, her elbows resting on her knees as she quietly braided her hair. Ethan and Haru had gone ahead to scout their path. Kurama and Chloe lay by her, sleeping peacefully. Her yellow eyes wandered, gazing at each of them in turn. It had been at least a century since she'd slept that peaceably. Faces, lives, deaths all haunted her dreams; they were really nightmares. Nothing good existed in them, only evil and violence. Her hands moved methodically, so used to the motions that she didn't have to expend one iota of thought to the process.

Suddenly, she couldn't explain why, she paused; her heart seemed to quicken, just like a human's. In less than a moment she was at Chloe's side, shaking Kurama with a foot while crouched in a protective position over the sleeping girl. "Hst. Wake up." She murmured, quieter than a human ear could hear.

Kurama didn't move, but his eyes shot open. "What's wrong?" His lips seemed hardly to move.

"Something's off. I can't hear some-" Her whole body shuddered as something impacted in her left shoulder, sending her tumbling back onto the ground.

Kurama was already moving before she hit the ground. He physically moved Chloe between himself and Carmen, his arms protectively around the drowsy girl. "What's going on?" Chloe jolted awake, blinking her eyes as she was dragged into consciousness. "Shh!" Kurama hissed.

Carmen brought her right hand up and ripped the straight, dark object out of her shoulder, shoving it into Chloe's hand. "Don't lose that!" She barked, on her feet and leaping the direction the shot had come from before she'd hardly finished her words.

Carmen disappeared. Silence reigned. Kurama didn't move. Chloe was too frightened to try and move, and too preoccupied to revel in the fact that her dream guy had his arms wrapped around her. Her eyes were wide, staring at the place Carmen had disappeared into the mist. She couldn't be sure how much time had passed, but it seemed an eternity before Kurama stood, bringing her with him. "Stay silent, and stay close." He murmured in her ear, bending and gathering her bag and jacket. He helped her into her jacket before leading her away at a quick pace.

Chloe was too afraid to break the tense silence. He seemed on edge, and she could sense it. She kept glancing over her shoulder, wishing Carmen would come running up to them out of the mist. But there was no sign of her. Chloe couldn't untangle the knot known as her stomach. Carmen wasn't dead. She couldn't be dead. … could she?

Kurama pushed her into the hollow of a tree, the plants mysteriously seeming to flock to him. "We'll be safe here." Kurama stayed in the entrance, his eyes darting protectively around. "What about Carmen?" Chloe asked, a hand on his arm so he would look at her. "She can handle herself."

Chloe looked down at the object Carmen had thrust into her hand. "What is this?"

"A dart. Probably poisoned."

Chloe's eyes widened. "She could be hurt and dying out there. We have to help her!"

"We can't. She probably wouldn't help us anyway. But she'll be-"

"So help me if you say 'she'll be fine' one more time I'm going to scream!" Chloe gripped his arm hard, her eyes piercing into his. "She's probably never had anyone risk something for her. Now go help her before something bad happens!"

Kurama opened his mouth to protest, but the look in her eyes stopped him. "These plants will stay with you and protect you. Stay out of trouble till I get back."

Chloe sank back into the tree as soon as he disappeared, unease settling into her heart. She knew she'd done the right thing telling him to go, but now that she was alone… She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a twig crack. The plant curled protectively around the tree, shielding her from sight. Nothing appeared, and momentarily the plants seemed to relax. Chloe couldn't. She was too on edge. Then she heard a far off sound – a scream of pain. A scream … Carmen's voice. "Stop being a sissy." She told herself firmly, stepping out of the hollow with shaky legs. She swallowed hard, looking carefully around. "Carmen needs your help – you need to start being useful."

She took off running almost before the words were out of her mouth, not because she suddenly found courage inside herself … she had just heard another twig snap.

Kurama sped towards the fighting he could sense going on. An unease was settling over him for two reasons: he'd just left Chloe, unguarded, in the hollow of a tree, and if his memory served him right before too much longer he was going to run into a very large, probably very swollen river. There would be no way to cross it, not for miles and miles in any direction.

'Let me out!' Youko Kurama spoke in his mind, calmly. 'I haven't been out in ages. People are saying we've lost our edge – let's prove them wrong.'

'No. You are a last resort, that is it.'

'You're a fool if you think you can handle these assassins in your human form.'

'I'll be the judge of that.' Kurama pulled up short at the edge of the trees, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. Two demons lay dead, their bodies ripped and mangled. The smaller trees were completely broken, the larger trees merely scratched till they looked as if they had been mauled by a wild animal. Kurama hurried to the riverbank, crouching down. There was blood everywhere, it was impossible to determine if anyone had fallen in the river, and if they had, who it had been. His eyes caught the flash of something silver next to his foot. He picked it up curiously. It was a silver chain with a simple silver ring; on closer inspection it revealed an intricate pattern of thin gold lines embedded in the surface or the ring.

'That's Carmen's.' Youko spoke again.

'Perhaps.'

Chloe sank down on a rock, her lungs gasping for air. She'd run forever it seemed, but she had no idea if she was any closer to Carmen or Shuiichi. She felt dizzy, so she put her head between her knees. "This was a stupid idea." She grumbled, in between breaths. "What if he turned off? He could have. He probably did. Now you're lost, he has no idea where you are, and you're in the middle of a world where half the inhabitants would like to off you. This is a fantastic mess you've gotten yourself into." She hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face in them.

"Chloe!"

Her head jerked up, relief flooding over her when she saw Haru running towards her. "Haru!" She grabbed onto him almost as tightly as he grabbed her, tears of happiness spilling down her cheeks. "Hey…" He rubbed her back soothingly. "What are you doing here alone? Where's Carmen and Kurama?" He pulled her back so he could look at her face. "I don't know." She shook her head. "I told Shuiichi to go help Carmen, then I got scared and tried to follow him, but then I realized I had no idea where he'd gone, and now…now I'm here..Where's Ethan?" She asked, looking around.

He smiled. "He headed for the river, figuring we'd all end up there anyway." Haru stood her up. "Okay, you have to be brave. Chin up, we're going to go find Kurama or Carmen." He held onto her hand as he began pulling her along began pulling her along behind him. "Not too much further, there should be a river a short ways forwards." Chloe was amazed. "How do you know that?" She asked, stumbling along behind him. Haru squeezed her hand. "Some other time."