FCL64: Hello. Against all odds, I have returned. I really wasn't planning on writing another fic (at least not any time soon) because I'm working on a story of my own. However, my friend wanted to see what I would do if she designed a character for me. That idea evolved into the following: we have created a loose plot for this story. We are each going to write the story in our own way to see how different they turn out based on our imaginations and writing styles (what fun!)

Kiyoshi: Must you talk so much?

FCL64: Only on the first chapter. Okay this chapter includes a lot of firsts for me (strange, considering it's fic number 24. Who knew so many firsts still existed?). It's the first time I have… 1) collaborated with anyone in any way (might not be safe, just a warning) 2) attempted to use Kuronue as a character in an important role 3) intended to tell a considerable amount of the story in flashbacks 4) tried to switch back and forth from past to present tense 5) told parts of the story from third person pov and parts from first person pov. Taking all of that into account, it should be very…

Kiyoshi: Interesting.

FCL64: Yes. Oh, and if you've never met him, that's Kiyoshi. He's my muse or the person in my head or my imaginary friend or whatever. He was initially created for my story 1 Dead, 3 Missing, but then he never really went away. Together, along with my friend animegrlsteph, we own Ayaka. Let the first chapter commence. Apologies that this note was so long.

The doorbell chimed. "Shuichi, could you get that?" Shiori Minamino called out to her son.

"Yes, Mother," Kurama responded, quickly rising and heading for the door. He pulled it open and blinked. His brow furrowed momentarily. Then any evidence of his surprise disappeared and he said, "Ayaka. You cut you hair."

"Same old Kurama," the girl in front of him said grinning, her waist-length hair moving in the evening breeze. "You never could manage complete control over your emotions. There were always telltale hints. Seems that that, at least, hasn't changed."

He smiled slightly. "One moment, Ayaka." He turned back and called to his mother, "I'm stepping outside with a friend for a bit, okay, Mom?"

"Yes. Dinner's in ten minutes. Your friend is welcome to join us."

Kurama stepped out the door and pulled the door shut behind him. "Come," he said, grabbing her hand. He led her away from the house, and as he did, his fingers grew longer, his nails sharpened into claws, he grew taller, his eyes faded to gold, his red hair turned silver, and silver ears and a tail flickered into existence.

The fox demon Kurama looked at the girl. "Why have you come here, Ayaka?"

"I never could get the smooth transition down," Ayaka said, ignoring the question. "It always looks so sudden." As she said it, snow white fox ears popped into view on top of her head, and a matching tail flicked behind her. Nothing else changed, but Kurama didn't even seem to notice what had.

He stared calmly into the pale blue eyes of the girl in front of him. No expression was evident on his features; he calmly stood and tried to read her expression. She did not look away but met and held his gaze. The wind blew slightly sending a few silver hairs into his line of sight. He impatiently brushed them back with a clawed hand.

She hadn't moved. Her white-blonde hair waved in the breeze, tangling itself around her shoulders and face. Her blue tunic was loose and belted down with a thick strip of leather, and the fabric hung down over loose black pants. She wore no shoes.

"Well?" she finally asked. "Done analyzing yet?"

"Why have you come here, Ayaka?" he repeated.

"I'm not allowed to look up an old friend?"

"Not after four hundred years."

She looked down, ashamed. "I saw you at the Tournament of Kings. Now, almost a year later, I decided the best way to finish the healing process was to contact you."

"The healing process…" Kurama muttered.

"You got over it then." It was a statement, and it was quite accusatory.

"No," Kurama replied sharply. "I never got over it. It still haunts me. I may have moved on, but I never got over it." He glanced at his watch. "She'll be starting to worry. If you want food, you're welcome to come. But the rules are no ears, no tail, no claws, no talk of the demonic, and above all, in there I am always Shuichi." He stopped then added quietly, "And the idea of the healing process is completely ludicrous. There will always be painful scarring. I will never get over it."

After a moment of silence she ignored his last comment and said, "Got it." Her ears, tail, and claws vanished, and his faded into nothingness as his height diminished. His hair darkened slowly and his eyes morphed from gold coins to bright emeralds. "Damn you're good at that," she muttered.

"I've been practicing for four and a half centuries longer than you have," he replied.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're an old man, I get it. Just how old again?"

"Almost fifteen hundred years." He was no longer meeting her eyes. His voice contained something Ayaka could only say was regret. "Fifteen hundred years…"

"A fifteen hundred year old demon in an eighteen year old human body?" she asked, "How on earth hasn't that ended in disaster?"

She didn't really expect an answer from the normally taciturn Kurama. She got one anyway. "She loved me even though she probably sensed I felt superior to her. Heh… I was always so arrogant. Her love kept it from ending in disaster. She showed me that, of the two of us, she was superior to me."

Ayaka knew Kurama well enough to know how hard it was for him to admit that. As he opened the door, she stated, "You love her."

"More than anything." They walked into the dining room where Shiori had already set out five plates. "Mom, this is Ayaka. She's an old friend. I haven't seen her in a while."

"Understatement of the millennium," Ayaka said under her breath so that only Kurama would hear. "Literally." Kurama elbowed her to get her to shut up.

Shiori called her husband and stepson to the table. The five of them sat down to eat. Ayaka didn't speak unless they asked her a question. As welcome as she felt, she knew she didn't fit in. By no stretch of the imagination was she a human. But she could see that Kurama was comfortable with his new life. His stepfather soon made him chuckle. Then his stepbrother made a face, and Kurama burst into laughter.

Ayaka smiled. That laughter… so many memories.