((Yeah... another story... hopefully not a one-hit-wonder... But I gotta new book on demons from Japan and I wanna make a story about it... please forgive me and here's hoping it won't be a dud!))

Chapter 1: Vulpes, Diner for Demons

Dear Diary,

This is my first entry in this journal. I promised myself that if I ever got the shop up and running, I would keep a log of everything that was going on within it. It's just a diner, a place to come eat, hang with friends or meet new faces. Of course, there is one major difference with the shop that I forgot to mention- it's only open to demons. Halflings are accepted but unless they have enough spirit awareness, humans can't even see it. There's a barrier that acts as a memory charm for any human that tries to enter the "abandoned" lot and reminds them of something else they have to do "right that second".

Now, I'll admit that I dabble with the humans when I have to but it's only once in a while. And I make sure that I'm glamored so they can't see what I really look like. Again, with enough spirit awareness, anybody can see through it.

Anyway, the name of the diner is Vulpes. Sweet and simple. It makes sense considering I am a kitsune. I usually stay in my humanesque form but I let my ears and tail out unless I'm going out to indulge the humans in their conquest to buy my "abandoned" lot and turn it into some useless fashion boutique filled with ugly human clothes and accessories. My hair is a deep red color, my ears and tail matching with white tips. My eyes are pretty big, I'm told, and a soft lavender color surrounded by black lashes. I always make sure I'm wearing some makeup- it's kind of a ritual to put on my "face" and it makes me feel almost empowered. I guess that's why humans do it too but sometimes, they tend to overdo it and end up looking like some kind of carnival attraction. I'm about 5'7" tall and I like to wear mostly revealing clothes to tease the customers. This is perfectly normal for a kitsune of 159. I mean, it's not like I'm mated...

My father and mother keep trying to get me to go back to the clan so I can find myself a mate and bear his pups. But how can I when my work here is so important? Vulpes is a safe haven for creatures of the demonic sort. We don't have to hide here, we can just be ourselves and-

Uh-oh... I gotta go. Spirit detectives just walked in. If there isn't a throw-down, I'll write in you later and tell you what happened.

~Kimura~

The vixen closed her diary and put it under the counter in her safe spot. Her ears were pinned back though it was obvious she was trying to stay calm. Her tail flicked around a bit as she put on a smile. "How may I help you, detectives?" Her voice rang clear and sweet.

The one in green, Yusuke Urameshi took a seat on the bar stool. "Gimme a beer..." he said, tossing 2000 yen in front of him. He was too young for it, of course, so it was obviously a test. He had on a cocky grin, black hair slicked back to show off his large brown eyes.

"You're not fooling me, Urameshi. Only a hatchling wouldn't know your age."

He put up his hands in mock defeat. His human friend (?) put him in a head lock, noogie-ing him teasingly. "Nice try! Now you can totally buy me that pop that you owe me!" His voice grated on her sensitive ears and made it difficult for her to remain smiling. "Lady, 2 Cokes!"

Kimura winced slightly before nodding and pulling out two bottles of the carbonated drink. She set them down in front of the two before scooping up the money and putting it in a register. "And for you two?"

The tall redhead of the group shook his head. "No thank you... I'm fine." He was of human descent but his soul was demonic, that much she knew. A kitsune much like herself, but hundreds of years older. She was like many of the fox yokai- had a crush on the infamous Youko Kurama in her hormonal years, or her teens if you go by human terms. But he died 15 years ago and somehow wound up inside of a human host. As pretty as this shell was, she couldn't find herself truly attracted to the glowing emerald eyes, the long red hair, and the lightly tanned skin. However... that wouldn't stop her from flirting and teasing him.

"Not even some deep-fried tofu? It's my specialty..." She flicked her left ear before turning to the last, and shortest, of the group. "What would you like, Hiei?"

The red-eyed koorime glared up at her. Well, he glared at everyone so could it really be called a glare? It was actually just the way he looked at people. Anyway, he LOOKED up at her and growled, "Do you have sweet snow?"

She smiled with a nod. "Any particular kind you prefer? If you show up, I'll make sure to have it stocked for you."

"... vanilla."

Kimura chuckled before nodding, "I've got that. Be right back." She went to the back and pulled out a carton from her personal stock. Since she rarily left the diner and her home was upstairs, she just ate there. She liked ice cream but LOVED deep-fried tofu. And while she had alcohol in the diner, she refused to drink any. Even the smallest amount in a drink could have her drunk enough to do something foolish.

Fixing up a bowl of ice cream, she returned to the detectives and set it down in front of him. "It's on the house since it doesn't have a price. But I'll be putting it on the menu soon just for you." A 500 yen coin was tossed on the bar top despite her words and the antisocial demon went into the corner farthest from the door so he could eat his treat and keep watch at the same time. The female just chuckled before asking, "Alright... so what brings you guys here?"

Kurama chuckled softly. "Can't pull the wool over your eyes, can we, Kimura?"

"I'm a fox, not a sheep... this isn't a "just in the neighborhood" visit. Is it the child-ruler?"

He nodded, sighing. "King Enma doesn't like that there's a place in the human world that humans cannot go into. And if there are others like Kuwabara that wander in here, there would be mass fear and confusion. He wants us to convince you to close shop."

The femme fox growled, narrowing her soft lavender eyes. Now her tail was twitching in irritation. Moving from behind the bar, she looked the human-kitsune dead in the eyes. "You suck at conversation, Kurama. I can't close shop and I wouldn't. Don't think that this is some stupid plot to dominate the human realm. It's merely a safe-haven for those of us who cannot fit in. Now... if you'll excuse me, Futakuchi Onna is ready to order. Feel free to watch me leave..."

Kurama did indeed, blushing lightly as he eyed her long legs that ended at a tiny mini-skirt, her tail swaying along with her hips. Even if he wasn't a fox, his natural human male instincts wanted him to "hit that". He was so glad his pants were loose. However, judging by the looks he was getting from the tanuki, the kappa, and Hiei, his scent was that of a dog in heat.

Yusuke could obviously smell it too but he turned his attention to more important things. "So... she didn't go for it. Koenma's gonna be all over us if we don't get rid of this place. His dad's so against demons in the human world, I'm pretty sure he'd sink Japan just to keep them out."

Kuwabara rolled his eyes. "No way... I mean, that'd be killing too many innocent people. And Enma likes humans, right?"

"If it's for a just cause, he'd do it... even if we don't agree with his crack-pot theories."

Kurama sighed, running a hand through his hair. With one last look at Kimura, he said, "We should discuss our next move. If she knows ahead of time, it won't work..."

"It won't work anyway." He jumped slightly as he felt a hand run through his hair. Looking back, he saw Kuchisake Onna looking up at him with coy eyes. Her mouth was hidden by a surgical mask but that was normal. After all, she was the slit-mouthed woman. "Better halflings than you have tried... humans try harder. She won't give this place up because then she'd have to go back to her parents home. They want her to mate with a male fox... this place is a haven for us. And for her." She closed her eyes. "Don't make her lose this place. If you do..." She opened her eyes and pulled out a paring knife. "... I'll make sure even your mother's couldn't look at you..."

"Kuchisake Onna! I told you, no knives in this establishment!" Kimura pulled it out of her hand and sighed. "This is a peaceful place for peaceful discussions and meals. No threatening people." She then hugged the beautiful demoness. "Thank you, though... I know you only did it to protect me..."

Kuwabara watched the scene with interest before grinning. "Guys, let's get outta here! I gotta idea!" He stood up and raced out the door. "HURRY, BEFORE I FORGET IT!"

((Okay, I already know that it's gonna be easy to keep this one going... so long as I don't writer-block myself. Well, I allowed Kuwabara to have an idea... so review before I forget it!

Kuchisake Onna= slit-mouthed woman, a spirit who will ask you if she's beautiful, uncover her mouth if you say yes, ask you if she's beautiful even with her mouth split from ear-to-ear and filled with sharp teeth, and cut your mouth from ear to ear whether you say yes or no. If the way I put this is confusing to you, please look it up so you'll understand exactly why she pulled a knife on the detectives.

Futakuchi Onna= woman with two mouths, a spirit who's hair acts as hands for the mouth in the back of her head. Said to have a voluptuous appetite, she usually keeps putting food in that second mouth so it won't mumbled curses and such, the second mouth seems to have a mind of it's own. Not a malevolent demon but thrives on startling the select few she reveals herself to. If you want more info, please look it up.

Kitsune= fox spirit, usually revealed as a large fox with multiple tails depending on the strength, it can also be humanesque or a mix of the two. Favorite food is deep-fried tofu and it's weakness is alcohol... yeah, this part is very important as you will see in further chapters.

Kappa= water imp, this spirit takes the form of a frog-turtle combo complete with shell and his head has a depression that is meant specifically to carry water. Becomes weak if the water is spilled out. He has a habit of playing very cruel pranks on humans and it can be as little as keeping a ball from a small child to raping the victim if he/she gets too close to the water. The kappa are males, which make you wonder how they mate... Wanna know more, check it out.

Tanuki= racoon dog, known for wearing straw hats and having large... lower parts, if you catch my drift. They are masters of transformation, just like kitsune but they do surpass the kitsune's abilities in that respect. Weakness is sake, rice wine. Is a mischievous trickster more than malevolent.

More info to come if you review...))