A.N. I'm not going to waste much time by dragging this out. It's time for Sakura to be rescued. Are you ready? I hope so, because this is not over yet!

Hina714: You're in good company because I think Kurama is blazing hot when angry as well. "A Demon among demons when Sakura is involved." Couldn't have put it better myself. Nobody come between a fox and his precious flower. I can't say much about the twins and their atavism, but I can tell you that it's something I've had planned since Book 1. I've known for a long, LONG time how to handle it, and Sakura's atavism might just surprise you. Sure won't be easy for anyone, especially Kurama.

Kurama letting Haruki live...hmmm. Well, I don't want to spoil anything but right now there's a snowflake's chance in hell of that happening.

Iloviendo Noshi/B Martinez: :D

hw0134160: Well...all I'm going to say is hold on tight because the final battle is starting and there are plenty of twists, turns and CRUCIAL things to happen before we finish. Captain Insane isn't going down easily.

Oh, I agree. Kurama taking down Elder Toguro is far and away in my Top 3 Yu Yu Hakusho scenes. The savagery, so unlike the Kurama we've come to know up til then...I suppose it does come out of nowhere in the original, but having Sakura being held captive and threatened by that insane demon would DEFINITELY cause some conflict.

Yoko really is too dreamy. I need a bucket of ice water just thinking about him.

Thankyou for that lovely comment. You really are the sweetest.

Ghost of Magic: Let's go indeed! Strap in for the climax.

Ukitakeitalialover: No, he most certainly was NOT playing around. Haruki better watch his back because he has some EXTREMELY pissed off boys heading into his den this chapter. As for Sakura...well, how can I say it, she's not had a fun time. At all. She's back this chapter, and you'll see.

As for what Haruki secretly said to Kurama during the bonus round, that will be revealed in time. I assure you though, it wasn't good.

I'm so excited for the final battle. Sensui and Haruki need to be stopped, and some would argue Haruki even more so. Not just for Sakura's sake, but for Master Shin, Genkai...the whole saga has gone on and it has to end here. I'm thrilled that this story brings you so much joy. I get insane amounts of pleasure writing it, and to be perfectly frank it's the only thing keeping me sane right now. See you soon!

Wolfs child: your timing is exceptional. Ask and you shall receive! Yes, Haruki has made a staggering amount of mistakes but kidnapping Sakura was the worst.

Chapter 36

"I'll kill you! Why won't you die?!"

The howls of Elder Toguro had not ceased, and never would.

"You're cheating me!"

"Such a malignant soul will never accept the truth," Kurama murmured. "The more he lashes out in his mind, the more painful the Sinning Tree's effects become. Such is the plant's nature. Only your own sins can hurt you."

"It hurts!" Elder Toguro screeched. "No, I'll show you! I'll tear you apart!"

At last, the Sinning Tree grew more vines to further lash its victim to the trunk. They wrapped around his body until it covered him completely.

Although Kurama's rage still hung over him, there was an edge of satisfaction as he said, "You'll fight my ghost until the end of time itself, Toguro. You are not even worthy of death."

Yusuke was suddenly reminded of all the times he'd thrown a hissy fit over Kurama and Sakura's relationship.

"Uh, Kurama? If I ever did somethin' that pissed you off, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too." Mitari said, no doubt remembering Sakura's broken ribs from their battle.

Sensui took advantage of their momentary distraction to call Itsuki over. "You can summon your friend now."

The shadows on the wall began to move.

Kuwabara was still thrashing and mumbling in the boat. "If you could let me outta here that'd be great!"

"Now only three remain in our path." Kurama said.

"Right," Yusuke nodded and stepped forward. First Kuwabara, then Sakura. He'd take them both back even if Sensui refused.

"Your end of the world party's dwindling, Sensui. And I trust you don't want to be plant food. Give Kuwabara back to us like you promised!"

Sensui smirked. "No need to get heated, Yusuke. I've kept my word; he's no longer in my possession."

"What?"

No answer was needed. The boat drifted behind Sensui at that precise moment. It was empty.

"No!" Mitari cried.

"But I never saw him move!" Kurama gasped.

Yusuke's fists clenched. "You bastard-!"

Sensui nodded towards his left. Yusuke's mouth fell open. The slight movement of Sensui's head showed a searing burn mark on the side of his face. He'd missed it before, probably because of the lighting.

Only Kura could do something like that. Atta girl!

"Look, there!" Kurama's voice shook Yusuke back to reality.

They did, and to their astonishment Kuwabara was indeed sitting on dry land about twenty metres away.

"Kuwabara!" Yusuke blinked. "What the hell are you doing over there?!"

All four of them raced over. When they reached him, Kurama dropped to his knees and removed Kuwabara's gag.

He gasped for air, then choked out, "Jeez, not being able to tell you guys how to fight…that's worse than dying!"

"Stay focused," Kurama said. "How did you get over here?"

"I don't know. One minute I was sitting in the boat, the next thing it felt like this weird hand grabbed me. I was all mixed around. Dizzy. But whatever happened, I would really, REALLY like to be untied!"

Yusuke quickly joined Kurama on the ground to release his friend. "Hey pal, are you ok?"

"Yeah. I mean, they kicked me around a bit but nothin' I can't handle."

"Good." Yusuke sighed. He was about to ask the obvious question, but was beaten to it.

"Kuwabara, have you seen Kura?" Kurama said urgently. "Where is she?"

Kuwabara jerked his head towards the hidden entrance. "They stashed her down there. I haven't seen her at all since we got here. Felt some crazy energy waves though."

"That's Haruki's den," Mitari said. "So I was right."

"Don't know what's been going on, but I've heard her a couple times, screaming…and she called out to me once," Kuwabara's voice turned desperate. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything, I-!"

"And Haruki?" Kurama pressed on. There was no time for pointless apologies.

"That nutcase…he left a little while ago and definitely hasn't gone back in-"

"That was his clone," Yusuke said, tossing the last of the ropes aside. "We took care of it, but that means he's definitely in there with her."

Kuwabara growled and rubbed his wrists. His limbs were all stiff after hours of being bound, but his eyes were determined as he said, "Then let's go get her back."

Mitari nodded. Hiei placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Yusuke and Kurama shared a savage look, then stood together and faced Sensui.

They'd all had more than enough. With Kuwabara's liberation, it was time to finish the job.

"Where's Kura, Sensui?!" Yusuke demanded. "We had a deal; give her back right now!"

Sensui chuckled. "Well, there's a slight problem with that."

"No more games," Kurama's words projected ice. "You will release her this instant."

"Thing is, I said that I would consider returning the girl," Sensui smirked. "But I can't speak for Ghost."

"Oh really?" Yusuke snapped. "Where the hell is that son of a bitch?! Still too scared to show his stupid face?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Sensui indicated the rocky wall about ten metres to his right. "You're free to go down there. Neither of us will interfere. However," he paused, and his face broke into an evil grin. "You might want to be careful. Miss Urameshi is trying to watch a movie; you don't want to disturb her."

Kurama's heart stopped. His breath rushed from his lungs. And from the look on Yusuke's face, the same thing was happening to him.

No!

They'd actually done it. Sakura was being forced to watch Chapter Black. Forced to see the absolute worst of humanity. The videotape that was said to turn anyone against their own kind in a matter of minutes.

The very foundations of the earth tilted.

"Move!" Hiei shouted.

Go, Shuichi. Go!

Kurama's body moved of its own accord, quickly followed by the others. Yusuke was too panicked and outraged to even yell or curse.

Get to her. Get to her now!

Time itself seemed to slow down. The secret den stretched out miles away, instead of metres. But they ran. And ran. And ran, until they reached five feet from the entrance and saw the pile of rocks blocking the passage.

They skidded to a halt. Yusuke and Kuwabara yelled in frustration and panic, but Kurama had already withdrawn his rose whip.

Then the ground started to shake.

"What?!" Yusuke cried.

Rocks ripped from the jagged wall. Giant boulders rose from the lake. Shards ascended from the pile.

Hiei shouted, "It's him!"

The stones converged on them from all directions. Hiei's sword began slashing at everything in sight. Mitari jumped out of the way while Yusuke and Kuwabara started punching them to dust. Kurama raised his whip again, but…

"Kurama, hurry and get to Kura!" Yusuke shouted in between hits. "Don't worry about us!"

Kurama paused. What if his friends needed help?

"We'll be right behind you. Now go! GO!"

That was it. Kurama swung his rose whip and sliced the blockade apart. He scrambled through the gap and started running again down the winding tunnel.

I'm coming, Kura!

It took only ten seconds, but in Kurama's mind it felt like an eternity. He had to get to Sakura. He had to stop that tape…

At last, at long last, Kurama burst into the room.

He blinked a few times in the dim light. When his eyes adjusted, he saw not one, but two televisions playing. One set showed a violent and bloody scene of torture. The other played an image Kurama knew well and would never forget.

The Dark Tournament arena. The finals. And Sakura, hopelessly trapped in Akumu's Shadow Cage.

"Yes!" Akumu cackled. "Come, Shadow Cage. I've ingested the girl's blood. Reveal your secrets, and unleash the fear within!"

Sakura fell to her knees and pressed her hands to the glass. "Please, don't do this!" she begged in a tiny, fragile voice.

"You have only yourself to blame," Akumu spat viciously. "I will force you to relive every moment, Miss Urameshi. All the horrors you've tried so hard to keep concealed. And everyone in this arena will see it too!"

SMASH!

Kurama's rose whip shattered both screens in one strike. The footage vanished and smoke billowed from the broken glass.

Without the televisions, the room was dark except for a few candles. Kurama pulled the final lamp weed from his hair and brought it to life. In his anger, it glowed brightly, illuminating everything. He looked around the room, scanning it for his beloved and her captor.

No sign of Haruki, but an invisible hand twisted Kurama's stomach when he saw the space. Tables loaded with flowers. Scented candles. Piles of books. A giant bed with a satin duvet.

No.

He shifted the lamp weed to his other hand. "Kura?"

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Something cold and sinister brushed past him.

Haruki!

Kurama whirled around, but Haruki was not there. He took a step forward, holding the light in front of him.

That's when he saw her, and his knees buckled at the sight.

Sakura was lying unconscious on some kind of table, but closer inspection revealed it was actually a chair, laid flat like another bed. Her arms, legs, wrists, ankles and waist were locked down with heavy steel restraints. She was gagged, and an IV line was pumping a sickly green liquid into her arm.

Kurama hissed, then dropped the lamp weed and dashed over. His head whirled as he saw her condition.

Oh, my love. What in the world have they done to you?

To Kurama's utter revulsion, Haruki had taken Sakura's clothes and forced her into a blue silk dress. As if that wasn't despicable enough, there was hardly a visible patch of skin on her body that wasn't cut or bruised in some way.

Her face, he could see, had sustained the worst damage. Dark blue finger marks on her neck. Her lower lip split open. A deep and profusely bleeding gash on her forehead that spread all the way to her eyebrow. Bandages on her wrists and ankles. A very black eye. Other smaller scratches and bruises sprinkled around her lovely features. Her scent, contaminated by the cocktail of drugs she'd been dosed with.

Strange, twisted markings covered Sakura's chest and collarbone, neither kanji nor geometric shape. Kurama didn't recognise them.

Some kind of symbol, perhaps?

Frankly, at that moment he didn't care. He remembered how Sakura had looked after being captured by the tokage mercenaries at Maze Castle. And her injuries from then were nothing compared to what he was staring at now. Were it not for the slow and steady rise of her chest as she breathed, nobody would believe she was alive at first glance.

A snarl escaped from Kurama's throat before he could stop it.

This was beyond heinous. Beyond comprehension. It was obscene. How dare they do such a thing to his precious flower?

No. Not now.

Cold logic was still his best option. His only option. And the first step was to ensure his flower's safety.

Kurama looked one more time for Haruki, and seeing no sign of him, he knelt beside the table and removed the scarf from Sakura's pretty mouth.

Her head lolled towards him. A fine stream of blood trickled from her lips.

"Kura?" he whispered while stroking her face. "Can you hear me?"

No response.

"It's alright, my love. I'm here," Kurama murmured. "I'm right here. Everything's going to be fine now."

No response.

"Kura? Sweetheart?" he brushed his lips over her cheek. "Please, wake up."

Nothing.

How could he do this to her?

No. There was no time to think this way. He had to get her free.

Kurama looked up at the IV bag and breathed in the scent. It wasn't one he recognised, and because of that he would have to remove the connection very carefully.

Next, he checked her restraints. No obvious locks, and he wasn't about to waste time trying to find any. He had far quicker methods.

Kurama pulled a seed from his hair. With a shot of his energy, the small purple plant from earlier spiralled upwards and gave a soft whimper.

"Careful now," he muttered to the plant, which hissed and opened its bud. Shiny black liquid dripped onto the shackles that sealed her in place.

The acid sizzled and smoked. Kurama continued to gently caress Sakura's hair until he heard his friends running down the passage.

"Kura! Kura!? Kurama, have you got her?!"

Yusuke was the first to enter with Hiei and Mitari at his heels. Kuwabara had to duck, but in seconds they were all standing in front of the horrific sight.

Mitari's face turned white as chalk when he saw Sakura's injuries. Even Hiei gasped.

"Oh my God…" Yusuke breathed. He stared in disbelief at the flowers and candles everywhere, then back to his helpless twin strapped to the bed. "What…what the fresh hell is this?"

"I don't know," Kurama muttered. He couldn't bring himself to look away from his precious flower. "Kura, my love. Wake up, please."

Kura? Squirt, can you hear me?" Yusuke walked over to the table in a daze. "Oh my God…he put her in a dress? What the heck is wrong with him?!"

"I'm sorry," Kuwabara whimpered. "I'm so sorry!"

It wasn't his fault, not remotely so, but nobody even thought of reassuring him.

"Wait a sec…"

Yusuke had finally noticed the IV beside the table. His eyes travelled up to the bag half filled with that mysterious green fluid. He looked nauseated.

"What in God's name is that stuff?!"

Without waiting for an answer, he went to rip the tube from his sister's arm.

"Stop, Yusuke!" Kurama ordered. "We don't know what it is. An abrupt change could be extremely dangerous to her-"

"I'm not leaving it in, Fox Boy!"

"Nor am I."

Kurama breathed life into another seed. This one had golden leaves and delicate tendrils, perfect for the most intricate of tasks. They snaked around the tubes and slowly, carefully, began to disconnect it.

When it was finally out, Kurama removed the medical tape and pulled the needle from her flesh.

His stomach turned again. Multiple track marks on her inner elbow told him that the IV had been crudely inserted. They must have stuck her at least five times before finding the correct vein.

Disgraceful.

"Mr Kurama, can you get her free?" Mitari asked.

"I'm trying, but my plant isn't working," Kurama said in frustration. "These restraints must be made of an acid resistant fusion."

"So make it work harder!" Yusuke said. "Get her loose!"

"I can't. Using a concentrated dose would likely burn her, and still have no effect on this metal."

Yusuke dragged his hands down his face. "So now what do we do?!"

"Kuwabara," Kurama said. "Your Spirit Sword."

Kuwabara looked like he was about to faint. The guilt in his eyes said it all. "I…I can't," he whimpered. "I mean, I don't wanna hurt her any more…just look at her face!"

"If you do, Botan or Yukina can heal her," Yusuke snapped, hoping he was right. "Just get her out of this!"

Kuwabara swallowed hard, then summoned his weapon. His legs shook as he approached the table.

Yusuke choked back his disgust and gently brushed the hair from his sister's face. She looked so young lying there. So vulnerable.

He felt sicker than he'd ever felt in his life.

The asshole beat her. Why the hell would he do that? She's just a kid. And what's all these weird markings on her chest?

Yusuke wasn't completely naive. He'd expected an unpleasant sight when they found her. He'd been more than prepared for her to have some bruising, maybe a few scrapes, most definitely tied up and probably a little out of it from the sedative they'd found outside, but nothing like this. The abuse she had suffered was staggering.

"Kura?" Yusuke whispered. "Come on, wake up. You have to wake up. I need you. We all do."

Her eyelids flickered.

"Kura?!" In a flash, Kurama was there. "Love, can you hear me?"

Her eyes opened by a millimetre, then closed.

"It's me, sweetheart," Kurama's voice cracked. "It's going to be alright, I promise."

Tears stung Yusuke's eyes. "Hey Squirt. I'm sorry we took so long. Let's get you out of here."

Kuwabara was still trying to cut through the shackle around her right wrist. Kurama moved further up the table, stroking Sakura's hair and whispering gently in her ear.

"It's alright now, sweetheart. Can you hear me? You're safe, I promise. Please wake up."

"I can't believe it…" Mitari trembled. "How could Ghost do this?"

Yusuke moved to Sakura's left side. He slipped his hand into hers and traced circles around it with his thumb. She was colder than ice.

"It's gonna be ok, Kura. It's gonna be ok now."

His thumb brushed something.

Yusuke looked down, expecting to see another injury, and his stomach dropped.

On her fourth finger was a giant sapphire ring framed with diamonds.

What the HELL is going on here?

Yusuke was positive that it wasn't Sakura's. To his knowledge, she hardly owned any jewellery, except the necklace Yukina gave her, some earrings and a friendship bracelet made by Keiko when they were little. Definitely no rings.

"Come on…come ON! Damn it, my Spirit Sword isn't working either!" Kuwabara said. "Whatever this stuff is, it's crazy strong."

Kurama hissed. They were running out of ideas. But then…

"Kurama."

Hiei, who alone had remained silent, stepped forward and said, "I believe I recognise this metal alloy. It's known as kinzoreta, and is bonded to one person through ki and a drop of blood. The more violent factions in Demon World favour it to contain strong prisoners."

Kurama's eyes widened.

"What?" Mitari said.

Yusuke clutched his twin's hand tighter. "So, what does that mean?" he asked.

"It means only that scarred fool can open the restraints. Any other method is impossible."

"And you're just telling us now?!" Kuwabara spluttered.

Horror settled over them all. But Hiei wasn't finished. He strode over to the table and unsheathed his blade.

"My sword won't help, but this will."

Kurama looked, and finally understood. "His blood from the fight."

"Correct," Hiei said. "I rather enjoyed stabbing him, and didn't want to erase the evidence straight away."

"Good thing you didn't," Mitari said. "But if that's from his clone, will it even work?"

Hiei bent over Sakura. His eyes softened as he stared at her, but he simply said, "If not, his real body has plenty that we can use."

Haruki's blood dripped down onto the restraints. They all held their breath.

The cold metal contracted, then sprang open with a click.

Yusuke and Kurama went cold all over. More blood soaked through the bandages on Sakura's wrists and ankles, and they were further lashed down by more ropes.

Haruki had taken absolutely no chances in preventing her escape.

Hiei leapt around the bed in a flash, freeing Sakura with a swipe of his weapon. And with that, Kurama finally pulled her off the table and into his arms.

"Kura. I'm right here, my love. I've got you."

No response.

Kurama laid his forehead on hers. This was no trick. It was really her, finally tucked into his chest where she should be. Where she would remain. Where nobody would ever touch her again.

Yusuke knelt at Sakura's head. "Why isn't she waking up?"

Nobody could answer him.

"Hey Squirt?" Yusuke touched her shoulder. With her injuries, it was all he felt safe doing. "Come on, open your eyes. I know you can do it."

"Here."

Hiei handed something over. It was his black cloak.

Wordlessly, Kurama took the offering and wrapped it around Sakura's shoulders. She was so cold, her lips had turned blue.

Please wake up, love. You have to.

Her hand twitched.

"Hey, did you see that?" Kuwabara said.

Kurama brought his mouth close to her ear and murmured, "Sweetheart?"

Her long lashes flickered again. Her lips parted slightly. A moment later, her eyes cracked open.

Yusuke nearly collapsed in relief. "Kura, can you hear me? It's Yusuke!"

Her head slipped down Kurama's chest a little. He quickly moved to support it.

"Kura, sweetheart?"

Her eyes opened again. They were glassy and unfocused, but she looked up at him and her mouth opened in apparent surprise.

"It's me, my love," Kurama whispered. "I'm here now. We all are."

"No," Sakura's voice was faint and rusty. "No…I can't…"

"It's alright," Kurama said. "Everything-"

"No…no please, stop…don't do this to me…"

Yusuke blinked. "Huh? Kura, come on, it's ok now, you're safe-"

"Don't, Haruki…" Sakura moaned. She sounded too weak and exhausted to even cry. "Please, I know it's not real. Please don't try to trick me…it's not him…"

Everyone paused.

"Miss Kura, it's really ok," Mitari said. "We all came to rescue you-"

"I know it's not him…I know it. Please Haruki, I already told you…I said I'd stop fighting…please don't do this to me…"

Kurama understood what was going on, and his heart ached.

She thinks Haruki is playing a cruel joke.

After all this time and all the torment she'd endured, it only made sense. But how could he prove it otherwise?

Yusuke and Kuwabara started talking simultaneously. "No Kura, it's not a joke, it's us!"

"I'm sorry, Kura. I'm so sorry I couldn't get in here sooner, but it's ok now, we're gonna get you out…"

Kurama had a sudden idea. He held up a hand to silence everyone and gently combed through Sakura's hair, even though she flinched at his touch.

"Kura, your favourite colour is violet," Kurama said softly, tenderly. "You love kasutera cake. You prefer to drink herbal tea and you've always wanted to visit London. You love reading the Midnight Stars manga. Your favourite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. And…" his jaw trembled. "You are the most precious flower of all to me. My beautiful hana, who I love more than life itself. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Sakura blinked a few times. Her eyes became slightly more focused. "Kurama…?"

"Yes, love," Kurama breathed. "I'm here. Everything is going to be fine."

"Yusuke?" She moved her head by a few centimetres. "Kuwabara…Hiei…Mitari…is it really you?"

Yusuke nodded. "Sorry we didn't get here sooner."

Sakura opened her mouth, and a lone tear slid down her bruised cheek. "You…came for me."

Kurama pulled her closer into his body, right against his beating heart. "Of course, my love. It's going to be alright. You're safe now. And," he swallowed, "Haruki is going to pay."

"Hell yeah," Yusuke muttered. He squeezed Sakura's shoulder and said, "I can't believe he put you in that dress…sick freak. Do you know where your clothes are?"

"You shouldn't be here."

Everyone stared at Sakura. Her eyes had filled with sudden panic.

"Squirt, what do you-"

"You have to leave, right now!" she whispered frantically. "All of you. Hurry!"

"Are you crazy?" Kuwabara squawked. "We're not going anywhere!"

"Go!" Sakura started weakly shoving at Kurama's chest, trying to get loose from him. "You can't be in here. Run!"

She could hardly lift her arms, but she kept pushing.

"Sweetheart, calm down," Kurama caught her wrists. In this appalling state, her body had about as much strength as a drifting feather. "It's alright, we-"

"Hurry up! Forget about me! Just go, quick!"

"Well, look who decided to finally show up."

Everyone looked towards the corner of the room. Yusuke's face went dark as a thundercloud.

"You…"

Haruki strode out of the darkness with a malicious grin on his face.

"It's impressive that you made it here after everything, but I'm afraid I'll be taking my bride back now."

Koenma hurried at full speed through the winding tunnel. With two hours left, and a two hour travel time to Sensui's hideout, he couldn't afford to waste a single moment. If running the whole way meant a few precious minutes were shaved off it might well increase their chances.

Keep holding him, Yusuke. Your cavalry's coming.

Koenma had a much clearer picture of what he would face now, thanks to Genkai's explanation of Sensui's plan to call the S-class destroyers with Sakura's telepathy.

Sakura would never do that of her own volition. Sensui must be confident he has some way to force her.

And that wasn't all. There was also Haruki to deal with. More to the point, his fractured mind and deranged obsession with the girl.

He really thinks Sakura isn't a human? All because she told Kurama to spare his life?

It made no sense, but nothing did anymore. All three realms seemed to have turned upside down the moment Yusuke was hit by that car.

Keep going.

If he got there in time, he had a chance to put a stop to this madness. A good chance. He had the weapon that would do it…

You used it already, his conscience reminded him. That could mean the difference between victory and disaster.

Koenma pushed the thought to the back of his mind. There was no time to doubt or question himself. His guilt over the situation with Sensui was already gut-wrenching enough.

Don't give up. You can still make this right. You helped create this mess, so get your act together and fix it!

Koenma paused as he came to a fork in the road.

Much to his surprise, he hadn't needed to rely on his power to navigate the maze. Small glowing buds illuminated the tunnels. And again, they showed him the way to go.

I'll just hope Kurama didn't run out of seeds.

Kurama bared his teeth and tightened his arms around Sakura. No matter what happened next, he would never let her go.

Yusuke stood up. His whole body radiated with his apocalyptic fury.

Hiei drew his sword. "Stay back!"

"You crazy son of a bitch…" Yusuke managed to say. "You asshole...how could you?" he gestured around the room. "Flowers? Candles? A dress? What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Haruki raised a brow. "I'm surprised, Detective. Even you should notice how that dress suits her figure perfectly," he smirked. "Only the best for my little porcelain doll."

Kurama snarled again.

"What was in that IV?" Mitari demanded. "Did you give her something dangerous?!"

Haruki laughed. "I'm not saying a word."

"We're gonna shred you to pieces," Kuwabara hissed. "Just look at her face! What sort of man treats a girl like that?!"

"Haruki, please!" Sakura begged. "Please, just-!"

"Sorry, honey. You know what has to happen."

"Yeah!" Yusuke snapped. "We rip off your face!"

"Actually Detective, you won't be laying a finger on me. Because Sensui has other plans for all of you."

Hiei was the first to notice the strange shadow that slid down the wall.

"Look, Kurama!"

The shadow flowed underneath them all. When it stopped, Yusuke blinked and realised it looked like a giant face on the floor, with its lips directly under their feet.

"Ok, another thing on my weird list just got checked off."

The creature's eyes opened. And so did its mouth.

"Yep, there goes another one!"

All of them fell down the hole.

Everything went dark as they spiralled around to an unknown destination. Nobody could even begin to imagine what might await them on the other side.

Kurama couldn't see or hear anything except the cries of his friends, but he managed to cling to Sakura's icy hand during their descent.

I won't let go, my love. I won't let you slip away again…

But there was no stopping it. He held on with all his might, until the sheer velocity ripped her from his grasp.

A.N. The boys finally found Sakura, but things are far from over. Looks like Kurama was right to ask so many questions on their second date, way back in Chapter 7!

And now, I have a confession to make: the first time I saw Yu Yu Hakusho, I was absolutely TERRIFIED throughout the cave sequence that Sensui was going to force Kuwabara to watch Chapter Black. He was right there, and it seemed like the kind of thing Sensui would do in order to recruit him. While we never explicitly saw that happen in the manga or anime, Togashi did allude to something like it in an interview where he responded to the questions as Kuwabara. Either way, it was something that stuck in my mind and I wanted to incorporate it somehow. And, well...I did.

So yeah, we've had the worst case scenario. Sakura was forced to watch Chapter Black. But the question remains, how much did she see, if any? What exactly happened between the last time we saw her and now? And what on earth will happen next?

Make sure you leave a review, and we'll see you soon. The next chapter is well underway. I'm on a roll now

Rosentic xx

Next Chapter: The final battle begins