Karasu's Pleasure, Kurama's Ruin

Pull yourself together, Kurama! He’s not going to hurt you… he CAN’T hurt you… not with Yusuke and Hiei and Kuronue here. Oh, who am I kidding? He’ll find a way…I can feel it… he’ll come for me… Kurama sat up slowly, trembling. He looked up as Yusuke walked in.

“Good thing Kurama’s asle— oh…” Yusuke hesitated in the door. “Have you been awake this whole time, Kurama?”

The fox nodded, struggling to hold his fear and dread under control. “Kuronue woke me when he started talking to himself a few moments before…”

Kuronue snorted, and looked away from Yusuke’s laughing face. Talking to myself…I’ll show him talking to myself… He threw a glance at Kurama, observant enough to know how hard the fox was trying to appear collected and in control of himself. “So, what now?” he asked, reseating himself in his chair.

Kuwabara joined them. “The nerve of that bastard, taunting us like that… where’s Botan? Someone needs to tell Koenma that the codes need to be changed!”

“Yeah…but let’s wait ‘till we’ve got Karasu safely stuck back in Demon World before we lock him anywhere,” Yusuke replied. “We don’t want him stuck in the Human World…”

Kuronue shook his head. “If he can get the damn thing once, he can probably find a way to obtain it again. Temporarily locking him away won’t solve the problem. We need to kill him, and we need to make sure he’s dead,” he glanced at the ceiling. “Although I would have thought you’d have realized the importance of insuring an enemy’s death before moving on.”

Kuwabara made a face. “Watch it, punk! You’re really starting to piss me off!”

Yusuke sighed. “No, Kuwabara. He’s right, for once. Remember what happened with Toguro? We thought he was dead and then he turned around and forced us into that stupid tournament. And we thought Karasu was dead, but you saw for yourself that he’s as alive as you or me,” he scowled. “Though it beats me how…”

Kurama looked away. “He escaped the Ojigi, remember? I was a fool to believe that he could survive that and then be permanently defeated by such an inferior plant,” he whispered. It was becoming increasingly difficult for the fox to keep up his brave façade. To him it seemed that every second passed was one second taken off the rest of his life. If he manages to kidnap me again, I don’t think I’d survive this time… I don’t think I could. He started as Hiei spoke from the doorway.

“So we lure him back here, trap him, and then kill him. I don’t see how this is so difficult,” he snorted. He went to the balcony door and opened it. Kurama tensed.

Kuronue glared and called after him, “How do we lure him back, Hiei? If you’ve got an idea then I’d love to hear it…”

Kurama saved Hiei the task of answering. “We lure him back by taunting him with what he wants. He’s rash enough to take the bait…”

Yusuke and Kuronue both shook their heads. “No,” they said at once. They looked at each other.

Kuronue resumed. “He’s fast, we know that. And he’s gotten faster and stronger since you saw him last. He wouldn’t even wait for us to hide; the moment we’re out of the room he’s going to grab Kurama and run,” he paused.

Yusuke broke in. “Yeah, and you said it yourself, Kurama, you don’t have any strength left,” he looked at Kuronue. “How d’you know all this, anyway?”

Kuronue closed his eyes. “I was at the tournament,” he said. “And I know he’s gotten stronger because I’ve been stupid enough to—to call myself his friend. Up until a week and a half ago, that is…” Kurama twitched a little, but said nothing.

Kuwabara looked triumphant. “I told you we couldn’t trust him!”

The bat sighed irritably, his head throbbing. “Don’t be stupid, human. You think I would have wasted my time rescuing Kurama and going through all the trouble of getting him home only to aid Karasu in his recapture? Yes, that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?”

Hiei scowled. “That may be so, bat, but there’s something you’re not telling us... and I don’t like it when people hide things…” his Jagan glowed for a moment behind his bandanna. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “You… you really are his friend aren’t you!?” his hand went to his sword. Kuronue looked startled.

“Hiei! It’s—it’s fine,” Kurama suddenly blurted. His shoulders trembled violently. “He—he’s more than redeemed himself… leave him be. We all have…moments we're not proud of.” He glanced shyly at Kuronue.

Hiei looked furious, but he sheathed his half-drawn sword and resettled against the railing. “Hn…”

Yusuke blinked. “Mind cluin’ us in, Hiei? Or did you forget that we’re not three-eyed telepaths like you?”

Hiei glared at them. “If Kurama wants you to know, he’ll tell you on his own time,” he growled.

Kuronue regained his composure. Telepath, huh? Then he must know… he looked at Kurama. He—he defended me… Ku-Kurama… The bat closed his eyes. “So, like I said, what next? We’re not using Kurama as bait. It’s out of the question. Anyone else have any bright ideas? ‘Cause I’m afraid I’m stuck.”

He and Hiei were the only ones to catch Kurama’s fearful whimper. Both demons glanced at him. Kurama was clenching the blanket so hard his knuckles were white, and every muscle in his neck was drawn as taut as a bowstring. The fox drew a shaky breath and let it out slowly, obviously trying to hold back tears. Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at him, blind to the fox’s terror.

“I-I’m sorry… I never got a chance to fall asleep,” he whispered, not trusting his voice not to crack. “Please…may we finish this discussion later? We’re not getting anything done, anyway.”

Yusuke looked guilty. “Sorry, Kurama. I forgot you had been trying to sleep… we’ll come back when you’re up.” He and Kuwabara left. Hiei remained where he was.

“I don’t care what you say, Kurama,” he growled. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

Kuronue’s nostrils flared, but he didn’t object, knowing the fire demon had a valid reason to be suspicious. His attention was pulled to Kurama as the fox collapsed onto his pillow with a sound halfway between a sigh and a sob.

“Kurama… thank you for your defense earlier,” he whispered. “What you said… it almost sounded as if you’ve forgiven me…”

“I’m trying, Kuronue. My heart believes it, but my head won’t let me…” he curled up in a ball under the blankets, looking pale. “Just don’t let him get to me. Protect me, please.”

Kuronue gently laid his hand on Kurama’s trembling shoulder. He looks so vulnerable…so defenseless… oh, Kurama… what have we done to you!? All too aware of Hiei’s eyes boring into the back of his head, Kuronue moved his hand to the fox’s head and stroked the flaming red hair reassuringly. Kurama made a small noise of contentment and his body gradually stopped shaking.

“Kuronue…” the fox whispered, eyes still tearing. “What would I do without you, Kuronue? If you hadn’t been there, I probably would have just let myself die… you’ve saved me so many times, and in more ways than one, and yet I can do nothing to repay you!” Kurama closed his eyes again.

“Don’t worry about it,” Kuronue grinned, unwilling to admit how touched he was. “I don’t want you to feel like you owe me somethin’ ‘cause you don’t.” Just as long as you’re happy... Kuronue's brow wrinkled as the thought ran through his mind. Where did that come from? “Now c’mon, Kurama. Get some sleep. You need it,” he muttered.

Kurama nodded and rubbed his eyes on the back of his hand. He lay back down and Kuronue saw his body collapse into fitful sleep. After a moment, Kuronue got up and went out onto the balcony, ignoring Hiei completely. The bat sighed heavily as he stared out at the city, his emotions and thoughts running amok.

“You hurt one hair on his head…”

Kuronue looked sideways at Hiei. “Don’t worry. I won’t touch your little crush,” he sneered, more to irritate him than anything.

Hiei snorted. “Listen to yourself. Don’t think I share your sick intentions, bat,” he said indifferently.

Stung by the comment, Kuronue narrowed his eyes. “And what makes you think my intentions are any different than yours?”

“Don’t be a fool,” Hiei snapped. “I’ve seen the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching. I know what you’re up to—you’re going to regain his trust only to break it again, just so you can watch his heart break. I know your kind.”

Kuronue gripped the railing in anger. “Don’t make assumptions when you have no idea what you’re talking about,” he hissed. “Kurama is a friend and I would never fall to the level of someone like Karasu.”

Both demons looked around as Kurama cried out in his sleep. With a sigh, Kuronue went back inside, seating himself on the edge of the bed. He resumed stroking Kurama’s hair, something stirring in his chest as he watched the sleeping fox