Innocent in the Dark

Chapter 15

Kurama was almost to his destination. When Botan said farther ahead she really meant farther ahead. He sensed two familiar kis', Alex and Shuuichi's? 'Shuuichi, what would he be doing there?' Kurama thought and increased his speed. He knew that people were looking at him weird but he didn't mind it. Then when he arrived his assumptions were correct. Shuuichi was there along with Alex and two other people that he didn't know. He knew that one of them is Alex's brother.

There is only one thing wrong with this picture. Shuuichi is on the other side and he isn't being held captive, he is helping them destroy Yuusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara.

As if they just noticed him they all turned to him. "Ah so you've decided to join us. We were wondering when you would join us Youko Kurama," the older man said saying his name in disgust. "Do you like our new recruit? He's a beauty isn't he?"

Kurama growled in anger and didn't answer.

"You have no answer. Well then since I need all of you gone before we get revenge on Enma for sealing us for almost an eternity I think he'll be the perfect one to kill you. After all it was him that killed that woman that you found on the ground lying dead. HAHAHAHAHAHA!" he laughed wickedly. (Kinshin: I think that crazy laugh was pretty lame but anyways on with the story) "Go on Shuuichi I'm sure that he's much more of a challenge than Koenma's other worthless spirit detectives. Oh since you weren't here for the first half, the one who dies, dies along with everyone else. That's the reason we fight in numbers."

Kurama was a little surprised and barely dodged an attack by Shuuichi. The others continued fighting but they couldn't bring down one of them because it'll also affect Shuuichi. Sadly Shuuichi isn't connected on their line but the enemies.

Kurama was defending himself but he couldn't find the strength to fight Shuuichi or injure him for that matter. So he'll try the talking method. He noticed that Shuuichi never said a word since he arrived and he probably didn't. "Shuuichi c'mon you can fight it. Fight them. This isn't who you really are. Don't you remember me?" Kurama tried blocking an attack meant to kill him by gripping Shuuichi's wrist.

Shuuichi didn't answer his question. Things were confusing him but the darkness overcame the light. Shuuichi stopped his struggling and Kurama let go thinking that his words got through. But that was short lived when Shuuichi looked at him with a glare and started attacking him again. Okay so he knew that he got somewhere just not good enough.

After about a few minutes into the fight Kurama found this very irritating. He can't think of anything except knocking some sense into him. Kurama was saying 'I'm sorry' mentally before striking Shuuichi. Shuuichi fell to the ground and propped himself in a semi sit up. He touched his already bruise-forming cheek then looked at Kurama shock. "Kurama…?" Shuuichi said with a shocked look seeming to be like himself before his whole attitude changed back.

Kurama was now a little pissed. He really didn't like this at all. Shuuichi's little front attitude was beginning to really annoy him. "Dammit Shuuichi don't you know what you're doing?" He said.

"I know perfectly well what I'm doing," Shuuichi said. 

'So Shuuichi's front can speak. That's a new discovery,'Kurama thought sarcastically before returning to defending himself.

"Aren't you going to strike me? I mean I'm going this easy on you and yet you don't do anything except that one little punch, which by the way is already healed by now. I could've easily killed you with just a single thought. People's thoughts and actions I could very much control. Isn't that neat?"

"No. I prefer plants over that."

"Yes of course the plants that you control. You know I could render you helpless just by thinking of your spirit energy gone and you'll be nothing except a shell of a ningen."

Kurama growled in anger. He didn't really believe this but he needed something to get Shuuichi back at any cost. He can't attack and he's run out of options. So there is only one thing to do, corner Shuuichi. He can fit into that role very well. Shuuichi wouldn't stand a chance against that. All they needed to do now was get Shuuichi back to break the link that would kill him instantly because Kurama saw that they've already captured Alex and the other two. They just couldn't kill them yet.

Kurama found an opening and punched Shuuichi in the stomach. He hunched over because he had the breath knocked out of him. Kurama remembered that their type of demons could get injured the way a regular ningen does. Kurama had his hand on his neck looking like he was going to choke him while his other hand locked both of Shuuichi's hands together. 

Shuuichi glared hard at Kurama. Kurama was a bit taken back because he never thought Shuuichi is capable of doing that. But then again with the previous events that happened half an hour ago he shouldn't be surprised. Kurama glared back at the same intensity.

"Give him back and I never want a repeat of what happened here," Kurama said angrily.

"You expect me to go just like that? Hah! No way! Besides this body has a lot of spirit energy and power. It's amazing that you didn't use it to its full potential Kurama. It's a pity that you didn't realize it when you were one with this body."

"Shut up! He's not a toy now leave him before I tear you out of there myself."

"You'd do that? I bet you that you won't even be able to do it because…" he began and managed to free of his binding and jumped ten feet from Kurama, "to make me go you have to kill me. Of course in the process of destroying him along with them. Two for the price of one. Well actually in this case three for one."

Shuuichi materialized a sword in the palm of his hand with just a thought. He tossed it to Kurama who caught it effortlessly.

"Here, it's to help you out. I'm sure that you'll change your mind."

Shuuichi calmly walked towards Kurama who now had the sword in his hand.

The others were watching with shocked eyes.

"Now Kurama, c'mon there's nothing you have to lose. You can either let them win or you could kill me and get it over with. It's your choice."

Kurama was in between a rock and a hard place, Shuuichi being the hard place and Koenma being the rock. He really didn't know what to do. He stared at the sword in his hand. He could tell that it is finely made. It was finely made just like those daggers he found in Shuuichi's room.

Kurama came up with a decision. He just hoped that it'd work through with his plan. "I won't kill you. I'd rather have you live than die." He said staring straight at Shuuichi.

Shuuichi's front stared in shock. Then displayed anger. "Dammit and here I thought that you'd follow through." Shuuichi tried to slice Kurama but only managed to nick his cheek. Kurama wiped the blood that was falling. He knew that it would take a bit of time to heal but it was worth it. His plan is following through. He smirked.

"Why is this the best that you could do?" Kurama said taunting Shuuichi.

Shuuichi just growled in anger. Kurama smirked because he knew that he struck a nerve. And he is so going to enjoy it really.

"Oops did I strike a nerve? By the way are those vines wrapped around you comfortable?"

Shuuichi did notice that the vines managed to grow around him and every time he moved it just gripped him tighter. "Shimatta!" he cursed.

"Language. Let Shuuichi have his body back and I probably might let your spirit live." Kurama said pressing the blade at the neck making a small cut."

"Go ahead do it. I'd like to see you try."

Kurama growled defeated. No matter what he couldn't kill Shuuichi no matter who took over him. Kurama let the blade down.

"Told you. There's nothing you can do to save Shuuichi from this. The only way is to kill him your self. Or you could tell one of your other friends to do it for you. I could force you to do it."

Kurama couldn't let anyone kill Shuuichi. He just couldn't even if it would free him of the dark spirit that took over him.

"C'mon Kurama if you'd like to know the truth Shuuichi has been begging for it since I handed it to you. He wants you to end it, to finish what he started. So that way you could finish what he should've done since he felt you abandoned him."

Kurama's eyes reflected horror and guilt. Shuuichi saw all of it. Inside he was hurting a lot and really wanted to end it that is why he gave in. The darkness always dominated over the light. He was too far into a black hole to get out. No one could get him out. Not even three simple words that he always wanted to hear from Kurama because to him, it would remain as words that have no feeling. To him they are just words that will never really be spoken until it is too late.

"You're lying. He wouldn't want that." Kurama said not believing what he was hearing. He knew that Shuuichi didn't want to do that, would he?

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Shuuichi dropped his head. He was now in control. He didn't want to look at Kurama and saw guilt and sorrow that was because of him. "Kurama," he started so softly, Kurama knew that it was the Shuuichi he knew, "please just do it."

Kurama now showed shock and sadness on his features. Shuuichi wanted him to kill him.

When Shuuichi received no answer he told him again, "Kurama please do it. That way I won't be all this trouble anymore." Shuuichi felt trickles of tears trying to leak down but he forced them away by shutting his eyes tightly.

"No Shuuichi I won't," Kurama said kneeling down to his level from Shuuichi's turned tear stricken face, "You are worth all this trouble."

He cupped the face making it turn to face him forcing Shuuichi to open his teary eyes. Kurama leaned in and kissed him to show that Shuuichi really was worth everything.

The vines loosened and everyone except the two of them became silent to Shuuichi's will. He put his hands in Kurama's long silky strands of silver hair running through it like it was his last time.

Kurama slipped his tongue in Shuuichi's cavern, tasting and exploring as if for the first time. Shuuichi took this opportunity to trail his hands all over Kurama's body. Kurama did the same with his free hand exploring Shuuichi's body. He had the sword on his other hand but couldn't let go of it for some reason. Kurama wanted to wipe the tears away from Shuuichi's face but found that he couldn't.

They were really into it. They didn't notice the gestures or minded that there was no noise except them.

Shuuichi trailed a hand along Kurama's right arm that had the sword gripped on. He knew that it was the perfect time. He was going to miss Kurama and he hoped that Kurama would forgive him for this and that Kurama would forgive himself that it wasn't his fault.

He gripped Kurama's right hand tightly so Kurama wouldn't pull away. Kurama realized what was happening but couldn't move. He was held against his will. Kurama struggled and tried to find a way to move but still couldn't. He then remembered what kind of power Shuuichi had. He had the power to control everything's actions. They were all like puppets to him. Kurama fell hard into the trap that was sprung.

'Inari no,' Kurama said silently in fear of loosing the one thing he learned to care about.

Shuuichi felt the tears trailing down his cheek. But he knew that it was for the best. He guided Kurama's hand up and thrust the sword through his stomach where it would kill him.

Kurama was free of the binding Shuuichi put and broke the kiss. He stared in fear and shock at Shuuichi's wistful smiling face. There was blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "I…I love you." Shuuichi said before falling into Kurama's arms. The sword disappeared signaling that Shuuichi was quickly running out of energy. Kurama immediately sent some of his energy into Shuuichi but it was completely rejected. He cradled Shuuichi. This isn't what he planned!

"No Shuuichi don't, please don't do this, please don't do this," Kurama begged looking directly at Shuuichi's eyes.

"Kurama…don't hate me. I…I had to do this. It was the only way. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."

"NO Shuuichi don't, don't leave c'mon accept my energy it'll heal you then you'll be better and everything will be the same. There won't be any more trouble. You are worth all of it. Please just don't leave, please," Kurama begged pleadingly at Shuuichi.

Shuuichi stared at Kurama smiling. He was starting to drift into unconsciousness. The only difference is that it'll be forever.

Kurama saw the fluttering eyes that were fighting to stay awake longer. "Shuuichi stay with me, don't go, stay with me. Don't die please. I'm sorry. If only I started over and everything happened differently…Shuuichi I…I love you."

Shuuichi smiled and placed a hand on Kurama's cheek. Kurama grasped his hand. "It's much better this way," Shuuichi said the best he can. "I love you too. Please…don't forget me." He said with his last breath before completely closing his eyes to the world that was once his home.

Kurama stared in shock and wanted to scream but couldn't. "Inari no. No. Shuuichi wake up! Inari please no," he shook the dead body knowing that it was pointless. A tear escaped from his eyes. He didn't care. He shook Shuuichi again to wake him up but he knew that he is gone forever.

He is in a deep sleep that'll last for an eternity. And an eternity is forever.

~ OWARI ~