First off, thank you to my first Reveiwer, SancticBlackDragon! Thanks for reading my story ^.^
Ok, another chapter! You get to meet Liora in this one. I hope you like her.
Disclaimer: I only own Liora and her Seika Temple. Nothing else. Though I wish I did, that would be so awesome ^.^
Enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Chapter 2
Kurama finally made it to the grand steps that lead up to the shrine. Why did they all have large staircases? He shook his head and moved forward. But as he did, he felt his body shift and change.
Kurama stood still for a moment, and then looked down at his now clawed hands. The hair that fell over his shoulder was no longer red, but silver. He felt familiar ears twitch atop his head, and a tail swish behind him.
Oh this was just perfect. What had triggered the sudden change? He looked back at the two trees that mirrored each other. There were several charms in place, three of which were protective, and one was sort of an alarm. The fifth was strange. Kurama had never seen one of it's like before.
He sighed and hoped that Liora didn't have any guests over at the moment as he trucked up the steps.
About ten minutes later, Kurama stepped up the last god forsaken stair. He really hated stairs.
He sigh and walked passed a small well just as a family of three stepped out of the shrine.
Kurama froze and wondered if he should hide, but it was too late. The mother caught sight of him and, after half a second, she smiled and bowed to him. The father saw, noticed him, and then followed suit. The little boy between them just waved. Kurama waved back a little, confused as they passed him. He watched them as they left. Most humans would have run screaming.
"It's alright, they know about demons. Not much, but they do know they're safe here," a silky voice said quietly from the shrine behind him.
He turned around, ready to ask why, but all words left him at the sight of the beauty in front of him.
She had long white blonde hair that hung loosely around a pale pixie face and a soft, lovely neck that fell into slim shoulders and a full bust. Her waist was thin, but not overly so, and she had long legs, shapely legs. She was no more than five feet six inches with crystal blue eyes and soft pink lips.
In Kurama's opinion, she was the most beautiful, most perfect creature he had ever seen. And with the beauties he'd lain with in the past that was saying something.
He quickly stopped himself from replacing those beautiful demons with the goddess in front of him.
The woman laughed lightly. "Cat got your tongue? You're Kurama, am I correct?"
Kurama smiled when she laughed. It was a sweet sound, and he hoped he would hear more of it. "Yes, that's me. And I'm guessing you're Liora Seika."
She smiled and nodded, and Kurama felt as if all the troubles in the world had vanished. His life was suddenly so much better after seeing that simple smile.
"Come on in and I'll show you around." She motioned for him to follow and he did, feeling sort of like a little puppy who just found a new and wonderful owner.
"This is the meeting room slash dinning room. When ever I have clients over, we sit in here, or some times on the porch," Liora said as she showed me the quaint room the family had just left.
She moved on with the tour, showing him the training room, the kitchen, ect.
What I would really like to see is your bedroom. He thought, and then mentally beat himself for thinking it.
However, as if reading his mind, she came to a long hall. "This here is my bedroom." She tapped on the wooden door. "It's a bit of a mess right now, or else I would show it to you. And down here," she led him farther down the hall and opened a door, "is your bedroom. The bathroom is down the hall and to your right. We'll have to share, since it's the only one near by. I hope that's no problem."
Kurama smiled and shook his head. "Not at all."
She smiled up at him, and then kept walking. "There's a hot spring about fifteen minutes from here. Feel free to use it. Just tell me first so that I don't go down there by accident while you're there." She laughed lightly.
"I will if you will," he smiled and laughed a little with her.
"It's a deal then," she stopped and turned back to him. "Well, that's the grand tour. It's not much, but it's quiet. Any questions?"
Kurama suddenly remembered the odd talisman on the tree beside the stairs. "Yes. I usually don't go anywhere in this form, but I changed suddenly when I started up the stairs. Why is that?"
"Ah, yes that. Well, you see, I can sense when someone is a demon or possessed, but the sensation I get with either is basically the same. So, when a demon comes to me as a human, I often mistake them as a person possessed. It gets a little awkward. So, I created a talisman that forces any demon in a human guise to shift into their truest from. Yours is obviously a fox demon."
"Oh, I see," Kurama said. So, that explained the odd talisman. She made it herself.
"That's not a problem, is it? My clients are used to seeing demons come and go from time to time, so they're no problem. But if you would prefer your human form…"
"No, no this is fine. But why do they know about demons? Shouldn't it be kept a secret from them?"
Liora shook her head. "Many of my clients come to me for spiritual support. If they happen to see a demon, and inquire about it, then I tell them the truth. Lying to them is count productive, especially if they're trying to get over something that dealt with being lied to. Others come for possessions, and then it's only fair to explain what's going on inside of them. One way or the other, I don't lie to people who put so much trust and confidence in me."
Kurama smiled at her declaration. It was nice to meet a woman who didn't like to lie. They were too few these days. "That's kind of you. One more question. What were the other four talismans for? I've seen shrines with two or three protective talismans, but you have so many."
"Well, the family has always believed in being thorough in all things and the protection of this shrine and those inside has always been top priority. So the different talismans do different levels of protection. One denies entrance to anyone who means any harm, but it only does that much. The other, if the person or demon is persistent, shocks the living daylights out of them until they stop. The third one protects the tree that it's on, so that the tree can't be destroyed, thus breaking the barrier. The fourth is an alarm that goes out to any physic inside the barrier as soon as the first one is activated, so we can be prepared for any sort of attack."
Kurama chuckled. "Wow, you really are thorough."
"Yep!" she cheered, obviously proud of the fact. "Now, are the rest of your bags in your car?"
Kurama nodded. "But I can get them tomorrow. I have the essentials for tonight."
Liora smiled up at him. "Alright, then, I'll leave you to your room. If you need anything, I'm going to be cooking dinner in the kitchen, so feel free to come and talk to me."
Kurama watched her leave, then heaved a sigh. If he was going to be here for a while, he was doomed. He already burned to have her for his own, and it had only been about an hour.
She was everything he wanted. Smart, friendly, trustworthy, and beautiful. Unfortunately, duty came before anything else…
He groaned. So not fair!
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So, how was it? I know, a bit longer than the first chapter, but that tends to happen with me XP And I know it's kind of dull, but everything that happens in this chapter is important, so please don't skip over it just cause the first couple of paragraphs weren't fun XP You'll be glad you didn't!
