A shriek split the night, and he dropped his burden when he realized it had come from inside.

"Kurama!"

Shoving the door open he darted inside, sword drawn before he'd even cleared the threshold. Dark eyes sweeping the room before him, he blinked as another cry of pain sounded from the bedroom. Stomach clenching, he raced into the darkened room to find the Fox curled on the floor, clutching at his stomach and chest and writhing in agony.

"Koibito?" the endearment slipped out unnoticed by the Koorime, as Hiei dropped to the floor beside him. "Koibito? What's wrong?"

"Hurts!" Kurama choked out, shuddering violently as his body seemed to ripple and shift of its own volition.

"Maybe it's the cure..?" the demon responded, some measure of hope creeping into his voice.

"Dunno," Kurama gasped, eyes clenched tightly shut. "Not... working.... Ahngh!"

Hiei reached out , resting his hand on the Kitsune's shoulder. It felt hot, even through the fabric. He frowned, as Kurama began to wretch again, though there was little for his stomach to bring back up. Tears slipped from beneath his fluttering eyelids, and Hiei wrapped his arms about the other, drawing him gently into his lap.

"Hiei," he finally managed in a hoarse, choked whisper. "Hiei... I'm scared..."

"I know, Kurama. I'm taking you to Genkai. You can't continue on like this."

The Kitsune looked horrible against the darkness of his lover's clothes. The circles around his eyes had deepened, and he looked almost ashen, as he lay there trembling. He gave no protest, at the demon's decision. In fact, he did nothing at all, save silently cry.