PART ONE: AFTERMATH

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." —Winston Churchill

Chapter 1: Never Again

"I love you, Kurama."

"And I love you, my precious Sakura," he pulled her closer. "I will choose you everytime, in this world and Spirit World. As Shuichi Minamino, or as Yoko, it is you I desire, and you alone."

Sakura's heart swelled so much it seemed her ribs would crack with the strain. She stretched up on her toes to meet him.

"I want you, all of you. No-one else."

Their lips met with such passion the forest might have been set ablaze. Neither would have noticed.

The more Sakura kissed him, the more insatiable her thirst seemed to become. She didn't know how the two of them ended up on the ground, kissing again and again, nor did she care. All Sakura knew was being in the embrace of the only one she desired, and he was kissing her like he could never get enough. One hand on her lower back, the other twisting in her hair…

*~*~*~*~*

Kurama blinked twice and emerged from the memory. The luminous garden bathed in starlight became shoji screens. The perfumed flowers were replaced with the bitter scent of antiseptic. That was not soft grass under his hands, but a futon where his beloved lay unconscious. The happy, bright-eyed Sakura from their first date had become the gravely wounded and unresponsive Sakura lying before him. The Sakura who he feared may have shattered beyond repair.

Kurama's fists clenched around the crisp cotton sheets. He was back in the same nightmare, as far away from that perfect evening as he could possibly get.

My precious flower.

The final rays of golden sunlight trickled through the window and onto Sakura's battered face. Kurama gazed at her, searching for any sign of waking, but there was none.

"Kura?" he whispered. "Can you hear me, my love?"

No response.

Kurama crushed the sheets more tightly in his hands. More than anything, he wished she would wake up. Open her beautiful eyes and see him again. Know that she was out of the Demon World, out of that cave, away from her ordeal.

"Kura? Please, love. Come back to me."

No response. She was still locked in her self-induced coma, likely entangled by terrible nightmares, and he could do nothing. The helplessness threatened to eat him alive.

How long will she sleep for?

Yukina had said Sakura would likely wake up 'soon enough'. He knew there was little anyone could do to speed up the process. He knew her body had reached a breaking point, and he knew she needed rest.

But he needed her to wake up. He needed her back with him. He needed to take her in his arms and apologise for letting her down. He needed to hold her close, to tell her that she was safe. That he would never let anyone hurt her again. He needed to tell her why he had erased her memory of Mushiyori Hospital, something he should have explained long before this.

I'm sorry, my love. I'm so sorry that I kept you in the dark.

In the glow of evening, the bruising softened a little, and Kurama found himself reaching for Sakura's cheek…

Stop!

He jerked his hand away. He couldn't do it. He mustn't. If Sakura were conscious, she would likely recoil at any sign of physical touch. And he would not do anything to her without express permission. Not after the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of Haruki.

"Too slow, Spirit Fox…"

Kurama choked back a hiss. The monster's voice rang in his ears as though spoken aloud. Even in death, Haruki still taunted him…

Stop.

Kurama took a deep breath to steady himself. He had to calm down. Angry and devastated as he was, he couldn't afford to give into those emotions. Not now. Not with his beloved so vulnerable and their friends on edge.

No, he needed to be strong. Sakura needed him to be strong. They all did.

One step at a time.

Kurama reached for Sakura's left hand — the only part that seemed to have escaped severe damage — and allowed his eyes to drift over her once more.

Though covered with bandages, Sakura's shoulder wound did appear to have stopped bleeding. The largest lacerations on her forehead, jawline and neck looked much better now that they had been cleaned and dressed. And that revolting blue silk dress was folded neatly in the corner instead of being on Sakura's body.

Kurama suppressed another growl before making a mental note to destroy it at his first opportunity. Hopefully, before Sakura laid eyes on it again. She hadn't put that dress on herself. He was sure of it.

What did that monster do to her?

The question lingered over Kurama while his heart thumped painfully in his chest. He wished he could turn back time and undo the pain and suffering his precious flower had been subjected to. But that was impossible. All he could do was wait, and hope to see her eyes open once more. No, not hope. He had something more tangible than that.

She's the most resilient girl I've ever known. If she can find the strength to survive whatever happened in that cave, she can find the strength to overcome the aftermath.

And this time, she wouldn't be alone on the journey.

"It will be alright, my love," Kurama whispered. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere, I promise you."

No response.

Kurama slowly traced circles around the back of her hand with his thumb.

It will be alright. Somehow.

His thumb brushed the sapphire ring on her finger.

Kurama's stomach churned. The oval cut stone, set in platinum and surrounded by a halo of diamonds. To any outsider, it would appear to be a beautiful accessory instead of a symbol of Haruki's sick obsession.

Kurama gritted his teeth. He couldn't bear to see her wearing such a shackle. All he wanted was to rip it from her finger. And he'd tried, of course. But it wouldn't budge. Yukina might have been onto something when she suggested some sort of enchantment. He'd never seen anything like it.

Of course, the ring was only part of the mystery. There was also the matter of the grotesque symbols on Sakura's chest, underneath the markings of her Mazoku blood. Even as he looked, those strange twisted markings, neither kanji nor geometric, were slowly rising into prominence again.

What could they be?

The ring sparkled in the final threads of sunlight. Kurama glared. It seemed to be mocking him, reminding him of his failures.

"She belongs to me, Spirit Fox…she agreed to be mine…"

This time, Kurama could not prevent a hiss escaping while questions whirled around in his mind.

What did they do to her?

Were those symbols somehow tied to the ring? Were they affecting her healing process? Were they the effects of some sadistic technique or ritual? Or worse, had Haruki–?

"Kurama? May we come in?"

Yukina's soft voice pulled Kurama from his reverie. He'd almost forgotten that his friends were here, who loved Sakura. Who were deeply worried about her and ready to help. Or at least, do all they could.

Kurama shook his head a few times to clear it, then called, "Come in."

The shoji screen slid aside to reveal Botan and Yukina with faces full of concern.

"How is she?" Botan asked.

"No change," Kurama said. "She hasn't stirred, but other than a potential brief nightmare I've seen no signs of deterioration."

Yukina knelt beside the futon and checked Sakura's injured shoulder with a practised touch.

"How is it looking?" Botan asked.

"It looks like the bleeding has finally stopped," Yukina said. "And the swelling has gone down a little. That's good news."

"Does that mean her body is healing?" Kurama asked.

"No, not at the rate she should be," Yukina said. "If her body was responding properly, that bullet hole would have at least closed up by now. And it hasn't."

Botan sighed. "Definitely not the progress we hoped for, but I suppose it's not altogether surprising. It's only been a few hours."

Kurama's throat was too tight to speak. He could only nod.

"Kurama, I'll need to check her over again with my ki," Yukina continued. "It'll only take a moment."

Kurama took the hint and reluctantly let go of Sakura's hand.

Yukina closed her eyes and began her examination. Kurama watched, hoping against hope that Sakura would regain consciousness again. But she remained still and senseless as ever.

Botan sniffled as she joined Yukina by the futon and stared at Sakura. Kurama spotted her tears even before they sparkled in the light.

Everyone is as concerned for her as I. They love Sakura too.

With this in mind, he forced himself to speak. "Botan, where is Yusuke? I thought he would have come to see her by now."

"I'm not sure," Botan said. "I don't think anyone has seen him since…you know."

Kurama's whole frame stiffened. Yusuke was still off sulking in some far flung corner of the estate, while his sister lay here with such devastating wounds? Well, not for much longer if he had any say in the matter…

"Kurama, I wouldn't worry too much," Botan said quickly. "Really, Yusuke probably just needs to be alone."

Kurama's eyes narrowed. Yusuke needed to be alone? What about what Sakura needed?! Comatose or not, didn't she deserve to have her twin by her side? Didn't she deserve to have everyone who loved and cared about her waiting for her to improve? Taking a little time to cool off was one thing, but it had been around eight hours now.

Unbelievable.

"It's so strange," Yukina suddenly murmured.

"What is it?" Kurama asked.

"Kura's energy. It's fluctuating in a way I've never seen before. This hybrid mix, it almost feels as though it's at war with itself. I wonder if that's got something to do with her body's current resistance to our healing power."

Kurama's heart sank at her words, but he pushed it aside. There were many factors to consider here, but he could not let himself be consumed by despair.

"We'll figure it out," he said firmly. "We have to."

"We will," Yukina promised. "Botan, come on."

Rubbing her tears away, Botan knelt beside Yukina. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

Yukina directed Botan to a particularly deep laceration on Sakura's forearm, then looked up at Kurama.

"We can take care of things here. Why don't you go get some fresh air, or something to eat?"

"I'm staying by her side."

"You've done everything you can for now," Botan said. "Let us take over for a bit. You've been here all day."

"I am not leaving her–"

"Kurama," Yukina's voice was sharper than he'd ever heard it before. "I'm only going to say this once: you need to take care of yourself."

He stared at her.

"How long has it been since you ate, or slept? Do you think Kura would be happy with you neglecting your own needs? Don't even answer me; you already know what she'd want."

Kurama opened his mouth to argue, but the words died on his tongue when he saw Yukina's face. The stern look she wore reminded him of Hiei.

Botan put her free hand on his shoulder. "She's right, Kurama. Go get some air. We'll look after her."

Kurama stared down at Sakura and squeezed her hand a little tighter. What they were saying was true. Every word of it. And right now, cold logic was the only thing he could cling to.

He all but ripped himself away from Sakura and stood up. "Very well. But if anything happens, please call me."

"Of course we will," Yukina said.

As Kurama made his way out the room, a heavy weight settled in his chest. He paused in the doorway and looked back at Sakura, unmoving as Botan and Yukina tended to her.

My love.

She'd want him to attend to his own needs, Kurama knew. And the girls would take care of her. But even so, it felt wrong. No, more than wrong.

How could he even think of prioritising his needs over hers, especially after all his mistakes? She was like this because he had failed to protect her...

*~*~*~*~*

The apartment door was now in eyesight, but Kurama felt nothing except panic flooding through him. He'd been correct.

Haruki was alive. He was working with Sensui. And Sakura was all alone…

A terrified scream split the air in two. "Kurama! Help!"

No!

He was still a hundred metres away from his flower. "Kura!" he shouted. "I'm coming!"

Kurama heard a deafening bang, followed by Keiko's hysterical cries and the shattering of glass. He burst through the front door and sprinted down the hallway. He had to get to her, he had to stop this from happening…

"Kurama, it's Kura! I can't get in there!"

Keiko frantically pounded at Sakura's door. Puu was flapping around, shrieking incessantly.

Kurama didn't waste time in kicking the door open, only to find thick clouds of white mist engulfing everything. He held up his arm to shield his face while Koenma started coughing.

"Kura?!" Keiko went to run inside. "Kura, where are you?"

"Stay back!" Kurama flung out his other arm to stop her. He couldn't be sure what this smoke was, but it seemed to be clearing quite rapidly. Within seconds, he could see why. The window had been smashed to pieces, along with the mirror. But there was no sign of anyone in the room.

Sakura was gone.

*~*~*~*~*

If he'd been with her…if he hadn't let her out of his sight for that brief moment, Sakura would never have been taken. She wouldn't be in this position at all—

Stop. You need to stop. As Botan said, you've done all you can for now.

Kurama forced himself to turn away.

She's safe, he reminded himself. That monster is gone. Botan and Yukina will look after her. She's not alone.

This knowledge was the only thing that gave him the strength to leave.

The moment Kurama stepped into the empty hallway, he heard hushed voices coming from the main sitting room.

"...you think the SDF will try again?"

"Of course they will. I wouldn't put anything past them. Yusuke is obviously about the strongest person in the Living World now, but female Mazoku are almost unheard of, so there's virtually no information in Spirit World archives. They said they're worried about the danger she might pose–"

"Which is nonsense. That girl is about as malicious as a butterfly."

"Of course. It goes without saying, but I don't think that's the only reason they're interested in her. Ootake said something about further testing, so I suspect they're more interested in a potential goldmine of data."

Yes, it was as Kurama suspected. Genkai and Koenma were in deep conversation about all that had happened.

"...they said King Enma knew about the atavism?"

"Yes, apparently he sensed traces of energy or something, but if you ask me, I'm not sure I believe it. Knowing my father, he probably…"

Kurama headed in the opposite direction. The last thing he wanted or needed was to be drawn into another discussion about this.

It doesn't matter what the SDF wants. They won't touch her. Never again.

Once he'd gotten a safe distance away, Kurama leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

His mind swirled with thoughts of Sakura and the events that had led them here.

My precious flower.

He focused on his breathing and let his thoughts turn to Yusuke. Where was he? Why wasn't he by Sakura's side when she needed him most? Even after everything they'd been through, had he still learned nothing? Did he truly fail to grasp how serious this was? He had seemed to earlier, but was that just...?

No, surely not. In the heat of the moment, he'd watched Yusuke declare his faith in Sakura to finish Sensui off. He'd watched him fight tooth and nail to free Sakura from Haruki's twisted clutches in the bonus round.

Haruki…

The monster was still breathing down his neck. Kurama could see him, hear him, feel the rough stone wall against his back once again…

*~*~*~*~*

Haruki pressed down on the rose whip and Kurama lost his momentum. That single moment was all Haruki needed to hurl him to the floor.

"Kurama!"

Haruki picked Kurama up with one hand and shoved him into the wall. "How I've longed for this, Spirit Fox."

"Put him down!" Yusuke yelled.

Haruki ignored him and leaned in closer. He seemed to be whispering something in Kurama's ear.

It was inaudible to everyone, but the visceral, animalistic snarl Kurama responded with turned the whole group's blood to ice.

"Never!" Kurama hissed. "I will never allow that!"

"Oh, Spirit Fox," Haruki sneered. "You have no chance of stopping me!"

*~*~*~*~*

Kurama pulled himself out of the vision with a gasp. Sweat dripped off his cheek and his nails dug into his palms.

Those words Haruki had whispered…had he meant them?

Kurama's heart began to pound and the taste of bile rose up in his throat.

Those words…

Were they just an empty taunt? Or worse, had he been lying, and–?

Stop.

Kurama forced himself to calm down. This wasn't going to help. The memories might haunt him for a time, but he could not drown in them. Not now, not ever.

Sakura. That's who you need to think of right now. She's the only thing that matters.

Sakura was safe. She was in good hands. And right now, her recovery was the priority. He couldn't worry about what Haruki had whispered to him, at least until Sakura was awake.

Kurama leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

Haruki was gone. Sensui was gone and Itsuki, while alive, had apparently lost all interest in the mission. They could never harm his beloved again. And he, Kurama, would ensure it stayed that way.

No-one will ever touch her again. No-one.

Taking a moment to steel himself for whatever lay ahead, Kurama squared his shoulders. While Botan and Yukina cared for Sakura, he had tasks of his own to complete. Checking on the others, informing them of Sakura's status, finding Yusuke and talking some sense into him.

But first, there was something else he had to do. Something important.

Kurama turned the corner and made his way to the phone. He couldn't put this call off any longer.

But as Kurama began to dial the number, he failed to see the shadow coming around the door.

Author's Note: Hi everyone! Welcome to Book 4, Three Kings!

I'm glad to have returned to the world of Sakura, even though due to extenuating circumstances I didn't even get close to drafting as much as I wanted and was hoping to before the publishing date. But that's ok! The book is all planned out, and I'm ready to rock and roll.

However, FanFiction's emails are down AGAIN for the umpteenth time, and I don't know how many people will see that Book 4 is out. Hopefully it's all fixed soon (maybe when pigs fly) and everyone will be back on board this crazy rollercoaster.

If you see this, let me know what you think about the opening of what is sure to be a wild ride.

Either way, LET'S DO THIS!

- Rosentic xx