Karasu's Pleasure, Kurama's Ruin

The room was silent, save for the endless ticking of the clock. Kurama, with his last drop of energy, had reverted back to his human form, Yoko gratefully retreating to lick his wounds. Now he sat in that hard wooden chair in his own dining room, drinking Coke from the can and waiting as the seconds ticked away. Even Kuwabara was silent, save for toying with his empty can.

Yusuke groaned and kicked back in his chair. "Damnit, Kurama, the problem is that you're the only one of us who's any good at this planning crap. I just don't see any way we can trap that creep when he eventually shows up..." Kurama flinched ever so slightly.

Kuwabara snapped open another can. "How do we know he's gonna come back? He'll know we're waiting for him to show his ugly face. Maybe he'll give up."

Kuronue huffed. "We'd be fools to even entertain that possiblity," he sneered. "Karasu's obsession with Kurama is great enough that he'd chase him to the ends of the Earth and back again if necessary. No, he'll show up; the only question is when he'll show." The bat glared at Kuwabara. "And he knows exactly where we are, too, which means we're quite short on time, so please refrain from wasting our time."

Kuwabara bristled and started to get up so he could argue, but Yusuke shoved him back down. "He's right. We need to use every second we have."

Hiei appeared in the window and landed on the carpet silently. "So far there's no sign of him," he growled. The clock ticked ominously. With each passing second, the fox's nerves stretched themselves further and further. Only Hiei and Kuronue were aware of the terror lurking below Kurama's calm exterior.

Kurama spoke for the first time, his voice softer than usual. "Please..." he whispered. It was all he needed to say.

Yusuke got up. "Right. Kuwabara and I'll take first watch from the balcony here," he said. "Hiei, you hang on the balcony off Kurama's bedroom. Kurama, your job is to go take a nap." Kurama blinked, and Yusuke grinned. "You look like you haven't slept in days--both of you do, actually, and it would be great if you could both regain at least some of your energy."

Kurama tried to raise a protest. "But..Yusuke..."

Yusuke shook his head. "Nuh-uh, fox boy. Right now all we can do is watch and wait, so you'd be better off regaining your strength. It'll be easier on all of us if you're not completely helpless."

Kuronue sighed. He didn't like it, but he knew the human was right and they both needed sleep. He touched the fox's shoulder gently. Come on. He's right. We should get some rest."

Once the two demons had shut the bedroom door, Kuwabara and Yusuke headed for the balcony, Kuwabara growling, "I dunno, Urameshi. There's somethin' about that Kuronue that just weirds me out..."

Yusuke snorted his agreement. "I don't like him either, Kuwabara, but frankly we need all the help we can get with Karasu and he seems to be more familiar with Karasu's actions than we are. Besides, Kurama seems to trust him so we can't really do anything about it."

"I just get this weird feeling when that guy's around... he's bad news, Urameshi. I dunno what it is but I don't think we can trust him."

Yusuke scowled. "You're instincts are usually right, Kuwabara, but like I said, it's Kurama's decision whether he wants Kuronue around. He's made it quite clear that he does want bat-boy around. I don't like it and you don't like it and I'm pretty sure Hiei doesn't like it either, but we're both willing to deal with it, because right now Kurama needs our help and our support."

"If you two fools are done chatting..."

Yusuke and Kuwabara looked around at Hiei, who jabbed his finger out over the city. They humans followed his arm and yelped in unison. Close enough for them to see his cocky expression, Karasu balanced lightly on the corner of a nearby building. Muttering a string of curses under his breath Yusuke fired his spirit gun, but Karasu was gone before the blast ever had a chance of hitting him. For a moment, the three looked around wildly, unable to locate the raven anywhere.

Hearing the noise, Kurama opened his eyes and stared out the balcony door. Terror paralyzed him as Karasu dropped briefly onto the balcony railing, met Kurama's eyes maliciously, and vanished, Hiei's sword slicing through the now-empty air.