Edited: Sorry, my browser errored and it copied the chapter twice, it's fixed now, sorry everyone.

Author's Notes: I felt like I struggled with this chapter. I initially had it written out but had a few people read it and let me know some of it felt rushed or vague, so I added some flashbacks to help flesh out the chapter. Hopefully nothing is confusing.

I'm sorry for any errors, I have proofed this and rewritten so much I feel like if I don't post it, it will never get posted. This one is a long one, longer than I intended, so I hope you enjoy it!

Sorry no Kurama cuteness yet, this chapter is mostly another set up chapter to help give backstory and establish their friendship.

I may do more flashbacks of the two if you enjoy them, but I am hoping to stay in the here and now of the anime after his chapter.

~Chapter 2 Start~

"If I have spirit energy...does that mean I can train it?" oh god I did not just ask if I could learn to do things that could get me killed. I was in over my head, what was I doing?

Kurama gave me a funny look before smiling is reassurance. He seemed a touch more at ease around me, but that may have been an act. We did barely know each other after all; and I wasn't really the best at reading people.

"Well, anyone with enough spirit energy could train to defend themselves, if that's what you'd like I could help you." He seemed like he was placating me, not that I blamed him, I was probably pretty hopeless.

"It just...seems smart, considering I could literally fall, die, and get you killed." I could accidently die of an allergic reaction and take the demon down with me, what a heavy burden.

"I was just going to suggest the same thing." He had an evil glint in his eyes and I had a feeling he was not going to be a kind teacher.

And that's how I ended up training under Kurama for the next 2 years.

Although training makes me sound a lot more impressive than I am.

~Break~

It had been about 2 years since we first met. After our initial pow wow, I admitted I was a reincarnation as I felt it might come up during training, you know, in case my energy was all sorts of…dead-ish. We had met every Sunday to work on homework and hone my spirit energy. I had learned quickly I had issues harnessing it, the first time we tried to determine my powers I almost killed Kurama. It was not a moment I liked remembering.

~Flashback~

For a week I had been stuck meditating to try and find the spirit energy within myself. The problem wasn't that I couldn't find it, oh I could, but I couldn't make it corporeal and use it. The exercise I had been given was to make a small ball of energy in my hand.

We always ended the session with learning hand to hand combat, which I was absolutely garbage at. I just wasn't meant for physical confrontations. For the most part I had learned the very basics and spend most of my time 'training' getting my ass kicked.

But it seemed like I wasn't meant for non-physical fighting either.

I heaved what was my 5th sigh and I could virtually visualize Kurama's frown. He was a pretty stern teacher, often thwacking me upside the head whenever my mind strayed from the task.

I was growing impatient and aggravated. I could see the energy flickering there in its prismatic glory, but when I went to grab it, it just wafted through my metaphysical hand. I resisted the urge to crack my eye open and instead visualized the energy as I had seen it in Yu Yu Hakusho.

It was normally a nice buzzing blue colour, so I tried to change my energy to look like that. I felt the energy tickle inside my chest as the once pearlescent colour slowly faded into a beautiful familiar blue.

'Maybe that's what I have to do first?'

Suddenly it was overflowing with blue energy and I was able to grasp it, pulling it into a ball within my hand. The energy kept pulsating stronger and faster within me. I felt very buzzed, high even.

When I opened my eyes Kurama was giving me a serious look. He was staring hard and I swallowed thickly. Had I done something wrong? I know it's not exactly what he asked me to do…

"Look, I did it!" I cheered showing him the ball. It pulsed in time with my glee and I felt pride surge through my chest.

Kurama went to respond but fell to one knee and gasped. His skin started to pale and he looked like he might be sick.

"Actually, I think you learned how to access my energy." He was giving me the best calm smile that he could but I was freaking the fuck out. Kurama was always so composed, yet here he was dying on the floor due to my stupidity!

"Oh god!" the blue orb dissipated from my hand and I rushed to his side.

"If you could close the gate you opened before you fully drain me, it would be appreciated." He was looking very pale now. I felt the energy slipping through my fingertips now. I had more energy than I knew what to do with, holy fuck Kurama had all this power the whole time?

Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god.

I closed my eyes and tried to visualize my prismatic looking energy again, banishing the blue. It buzzed slightly before the blue slipped away from me, I felt it leaving through my fingertips and into Kurama.

After a few moments Kurama heaved a sigh and laid down against his bedroom floor.

"I'm so sorry!" my face was a mix of red from embarrassment and white from my panic. I was probably pretty pink by now.

"It's ok, we didn't know that could happen. I figured something like this was possible; I should have said something." He waved me off his eyes closed in fatigue. He was once again taking responsibility for my blunder.

We never revisited Spirit Energy again. Kurama had eventually admitted my energy didn't feel like normal Spirit Energy, and the fact it looked different only proved the theory I didn't have normal Spirit Energy.

I had asked him afterward he started to feel better to access it and see if he could see what was so off about it, but he declined. It wasn't a safe action for us to pursue knowing as little as we did during our training exercises.

~Flashback End~

Kurama was ever patient with me, but it was clear I just wasn't going to be a fighter. Kurama wondered if it was because I had been reborn from another world that my body just didn't possess the same ability to harness my own spirit energy. I had a feeling he was just making shit up, considering he was technically in a similar boat spiritually as me and he could access his bodies spirit energy just fine.

There was a lot he didn't tell me over the years to be honest.

Other times he wondered if it was because we could access each others spirit energy and he had often taped into my vast reserves, the reserves I couldn't properly access myself, to fight through powerful enemies. He had eventually learned to practice doing so after he was forced to try it during a particularly tough fight. He, however, didn't leave me almost dead, having much better control than me.

~Flashback~

Kurama and I were heading home from school one day to work on a History project together at my apartment when he interrupted my train of thought.

"Don't react, but I sense a demon following us." He was staring straight ahead giving no indication he was talking to me.

It had only been 2 weeks since our spiritual encounter and I was nowhere near ready to deal with demons. I was so dead, again.

Kurama ushered us in the opposite direction from my apartment and instead had us heading towards a local park that was large and didn't have loads of foot traffic.

Sadly we didn't have that luxury as the Demon, looking an awful lot like a regular man, appeared in front of us on the eerily empty street. Well, if you didn't count the orange eyes and the tiny horns going around his head.

"Well well well, if it isn't Youko Kurama," He licked his lips and Kurama stepped in front of me, "Oh? Protecting your little pet are we?" He laughed and the stench of death stretched across the expanse between us.

"I'm sorry, I don't know your name," Kurama responded, "It must be because you are of little consequence in the Demon World." Kurama had flicked out his rose whip after finishing his taunting.

The nameless demon didn't bother reacting as he laughed again.

"I think I'll keep your little pet after you are dead." The demon disappeared and I felt the wind knock out of me.

I skidded across the grass and noticed Kurama had pushed me out of the way just as the nameless demon appeared ready to slice me through with his claws.

I swallowed a thick lump and tried to stand the best I could despite the pain spreading up from my tailbone.

Kurama was moving so quick now I couldn't really follow. I could see some of the hits he made with his rose whip, but not much else.

After a few moments Kurama was thrown clear across the area and hit the concrete wall behind me. There I stood, in an empty street, with Kurama laying against a dented wall.

I felt the wind knock out of me and the pain on my back intensified. I fell to a knee and knew then, I was feeling what Kurama felt. It was then I knew how hurt he had gotten.

He stood shakily but the demon picked him up and tossed him like he was nothing. I felt pain in my head again as his head cracked against the pavement, blood dripping from the impact.

Everything was starting to look hazy as I tried to stayed conscious.

Shit, we were still only 13, I was betting Kurama hadn't gained all his powers back yet.

Kurama stood shakily, the blood running down his face and into his left eye.

"When I attack, this time run, I am running out of Spirit Energy, he's too strong for me as I am." He ordered.

"What, no, I'm not leaving you, I may be useless, but we know you can access my energy." I shakily walked over to him and placed my hand on his arm and brushed the blood away from his eye as best I could.

"We have no idea what will happen, I'm not risking it."

"Yeah but if you die, there's a good chance I'll die with you, what do we have to lose?"

Kurama was silent for a moment before he gave me a nod and closed his eyes.

I suddenly felt fainter than I already did and almost fell to my knees. Kurama opened his eyes and he was pulsating with energy. The pain in my back started to dissipate, same with the pain in my head. He disappeared from view again and the next thing I knew the demon was thrown into the building this time and let out a deep groan.

Kurama walked over to him and the look on his face was horrifying. If it was possible, the look was even worse than the look I was given when we were on the school's roof together.

He held out his hand and a plant started to grow out, the tendrils of the plant curling around his arm tenderly as if it were a child hugging its mother.

A snapping venus fly trap looking mouth appeared and grew before me, its cilia dripping with what I could only assume was acid. It loomed over the struggling demon who was now incapacitated by the green tendrils, blood was oozing from where it held onto the demon, and I knew then it had sunk itself into his flesh to prevent him from getting away.

I don't even know if the demon screamed, as I had turned away and covered my ears as the plant bit down.

~Flashback End~

I had asked him once what the energy he borrowed looked like to him, and he gave me a strange look responding that it was its usual blue. I waved it off as curiosity too afraid to admit the energy I had access to wasn't blue, at least to me.

I wasn't sure what was going on to be honest, I wasn't even from this world, so it didn't surprise me that my energy was less than agreeable to spirit energy. Something felt blocked, like I wasn't really meant for this body, nor this type of energy.

In fact, I didn't even have most of my memories, I was a mess.

I had started getting nightmares after that incident. I would see people dying in all sorts of ways. Sometimes I dreamed about brimstone and rivers of acid.

I never told Kurama about the specifics, only that I had occasional nightmares. He blamed it on the fact I had recently learned about demons and my mind was finding ways to make sense of everything. He was entirely too logical for a demon that escaped death by hijacking a fetus.

But I couldn't help but think back to my strangely coloured energy, because everywhere I was in my dreams, I was surrounded in its prismatic essence.

We had become fast friends to be honest. Stuck together it was kind of nice to have someone who just...knew and you could be yourself around. I felt after I had admitted everything Kurama had relaxed a lot more around me.

I had admitted after a few months our friendship had solidified, that I was from another world, in addition to be reincarnated. Kurama was surprised but took it in stride. It didn't help us at all figure out what was going on so he kind of dismissed it as unimportant information; but it was still nice to get it off my chest. He seemed to agree with me after that, however, that my abilities were probably stunted because spirit energy wasn't a thing where I came from.

I never told him I knew him from a TV show, it seemed pointless and would only create questions I didn't want to answer. Questions I didn't have the answers too, to be honest.

~Break~

"Wait we are a TV show?" Kuwabara interrupted again.

"Shut up, we've been over this already." Yusuke joined in as they started bickering.

"Guys stop, if you want to hear the story you need to stop."

Annoyed, who me? I looked into the eyes across from me and cleared my throat ready to continue.

~Break~

Who knows what messes I could create if I changed even the tiniest bit?

Besides, I knew about as much as him at this point. I knew who a few characters were, but it wasn't my favourite show it was...

I couldn't remember.

E...Er...GAH! It kept slipping away, I knew someone else loved this show but I couldn't remember who. It was frustrating that every once and a while I would remember a face and as quickly as it came, it was gone.

I knew Yusuke would get hit by a car, I knew there were a couple of tournaments...but that was about it.

As the years I lived in my second life went by I remembered less and less. It kind of scared me how easy it was to forget my old life. Things just felt so natural once I had established a strong friendship with our rose wielding fox.

I felt like maybe things could be normal for me yet, Kurama by my side, the world suddenly didn't seem so big.

That was until we had met Maya.

I had met her one day at school and we became fast friends. She was mature for her age and had such a calming effect on me.

Kurama said it was her own small amount of spirit energy. I didn't really care though because she was finally my first real, official, non-forced on me friend.

~Flashback~

A few weeks had gone by and I was working on a History Essay during lunchbreak at school. The entire Junior High was a buzz as we had an exchange student arriving today in class 1-3, right across from ours. I heard she was absolutely stunning, or so the male students kept whispering about.

"What do you think she's like?" I asked absentmindedly as Kurama was reading yet another book.

"The Kitajima girl?" He didn't even bother looking at me.

"Yeah, I mean, I assume she's like any other 13 year old girl but..." I wiggled my head and hands in an attempt to convey the words I couldn't say in public.

"More mature?" Kurama quirked an eyebrow at me, he had placed the book down on his desk and gave me his full attention.

"I don't know, I just have this feeling..." I tried to shrug it off and go back to my assignment.

"It's not surprising; she has some spirit energy so I imagine that's what you're feeling." He plucked his book back up and continued to read it nonchalantly.

"You met her already?"

"Oh course, it's only polite." He was grinning at my curiosity.

"Meaning she's not a threat." I deadpanned as I gave him an annoyed look.

"How very astute of you."

"Shut up!" I grumbled returning to my school work.

~Break~

It had been a week since my curiosity peaked about the new girl. Since then I hadn't seen hide or hair of her, until today. I saw her standing awkwardly in our classroom staring at my desk while biting her lip. I walked into the classroom and approached her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I inquired, causing her to jump lightly.

"Oh, sorry, I was just trying to figure out which one was Minamino-sans..." She trailed off with a bright blush on her face.

"Oh? Well this one's mine," I clarified as I took my seat, "That one is his." I waved my hand over Kurama's desk.

"Oh thank you! I hope I'm not coming off creepy..." She twisted a strand of hair in her hand as she placed a small box on his desk, "It's a thank you, in case you were wondering, I know you and him..." She blushed an even deeper red this time.

"Me and him are just close friends." I smiled as I kept my amusement internal.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to be so bold..." She was twisting her hands in worry now.

"It's fine, don't worry about it, what are you thanking him for?" Changing the topic seemed like the best course of action to help ease her nervousness.

"Oh, he helped me when I got lost on my first day, and ever since then he has always made an effort to say hello...it just seemed like the polite thing to do."

Huh, sounds familiar. I wonder if that was Kurama's way of checking out potential threats…

"Well you are welcome to pull up a chair and have lunch with me while we wait for him." I invited as I patted my desk with a warm smile.

"Oh...sure." She smiled brightly and all of her unease disappeared in a second as she joined me.

~Break~

Kurama never did make it to that lunch, in fact, we ended up eating the cookies she had baked and by the time Kurama made it to the classroom, we were busy laughing at the empty box he encountered.

Kurama laughed it off as well and that was that, what was once a duo became a trio.

~Break~

It had been about a year since we had met Maya. We were on a class outing to a botanical garden. Yeah, I know, of course it was a garden.

Maya and I had paired up as partners while Kurama was paired with some guy named Takashi. We didn't really know much about him, but he was from class 1-4 and was an average student.

Maya was going on and on about her favourite flower, a Statice. She was going on and on about all the difference flower meanings as we passed them by. She was so happy and vibrant I couldn't help but smile with her.

"And the Statice symbolizes remembrance, I've always liked that one, it's like...as long as you have a little flower, you will remember all the things you need to remember, I always keep one in my notebook when I study." She smiled wide, her pink lips spreading thin and showing her pearly whites.

"Man you and Shuichi would have made the best pairing for this, you both love plants." I grinned and she blushed deeply, turning her head to hide it.

"Yeah...but it's girls with girls and boys with boys." She coughed out as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

"Well I'm sure you'd be more mentally stimulating than Takashi." I laughed as the poor boy sniffed another flower and had another sneezing fit all over Kurama.

"Oh dear, maybe we should go interrupt to save him from a snotty fate?" I laughed as I pulled Maya along with me towards Kurama and Takashi.

"Hello Mukai, Kitajima." Kurama greeted with a smile and his usual head nod.

"Sup?" I asked as Takashi sneezed again.

"I hate flowers..." Takashi hissed as he blew his nose in an over used tissue.

"Charming." I noted as Kurama gave me a look.

"Be nice." He warned.

"I'm always nice." I scoffed at his absurd accusation.

"Come on you guys, I want to go and see the Statices already!" She pulled at both of our hands and I noticed Kurama's smile soften just the slightest at the corners.

He noticed my smile and gave me a warning look.

Oh yeah, I could tell, suck it Kurama.

The Statices weren't far from where we were and we stopped not long after Maya had started dragging us. She let us go and leaned over the railings with a frown as she stared down at a bunch of flowerless green foliage.

"Awe, they aren't in bloom," She pouted as she let go of the railing and leaned against it giving us an embarrassed smile, "Sorry for wasting your time." She sighed as her head tilted back, a frown marring her face.

Kurama placed his hand under his chin and stared at the flowers in deep thought, he then turned to me and winked. Oh, he has a plan. How fun.

"I think Ana has to go to the bathroom, do you mind going with her?" He inquired.

"Yeah, sorry, had too much coffee this morning, and you are my buddy." I shrugged in a weak apology.

"Oh, sure, no problem!" Maya was by my side within seconds and off we went to give Kurama time to do his foxy magic.

As I was sitting on the toilet trying to pee whatever I could, Maya was talking about what a beautiful purple the Statices were.

"It's ok, I'm sure we'll see some soon." I responded as I flushed the toilet and went to wash my hands.

"Yeah but still...I feel bad for dragging you and Minamino-san all the way here to see nothing." She was brushing her foot awkwardly against the bathroom tile as she twisted the hem of her skirt, a nervous habit she had.

"It's ok, I know you didn't mean it," I shrugged, drying my hands I turned to her, "Come on, let's not leave your prince charming waiting." Her red face got even redder and I laughed.

"Stop saying that!" She squeaked as I pulled her along.

Her words of protest died on her lips as she came to see the Statices blooming, a lot larger than I think they ever got to be on their own.

Kurama turned, a wide smile on his face, as he noticed our presence. Maya was silent, dumb struck by the gorgeously blooming purple flowers.

"I...how?"

"Sometimes plants do weird things." I filled in as I stared at the scene in awe.

There Kurama was standing there, hair fluttering in the wind, surrounded by huge blooming purple flowers. He was grinning to himself lightly an I couldn't help but be enthralled. I may sometimes forget, but Kurama was a beautiful man, and it showed. Maya ran forward to smell them and Kurama followed her movements smiling amusedly down at her.

I couldn't help but feel like I was a voyeur, interrupting their moment. I twisted my hands nervously and thought about a way I could excuse myself as I was starting to feel self conscious.

But I stopped feeling bad once Takashi had another sneezing attack and both Maya and Kurama were snapped out of whatever spell they were under.

~Break~

It was about 6 months after that incident and I was at home working on homework, having finished a texting conversation with Maya a few hours ago.

Kurama had been gone for a few hours as well and I was starting to get worried. He had said he noticed a demon's presence, whom he had mentioned his name was 'Hiei'. He was going to track him down and find out once and for all if he was working for Yatsude, a demon who was after Kurama.

But I wasn't sure if Kurama was safe, I had not felt anything since his departure, which meant he couldn't have died.

Assuming that's how the link worked anyways.

My phone rang and I noticed it was Kurama, scrambling I picked it up.

"You ok?" I asked quickly.

"I'm fine, can you come meet me at Kitajima's home?" it was an odd request, and I would have questioned him had it not been for his grave tone.

"Sure." I affirmed as I grabbed my bag and keys heading out the door. Maya's place wasn't far from mine, so I opted to jog there.

It took about 20 minutes till I saw the familiar door and knocked. Kurama answered and let me in. I gave him a questioning look.

"I defeated Yatsude and managed to find Hiei, he wasn't working for Yatsude for the record. We managed to strike a deal as Hiei had his own personal interests in defeating him." He stopped for a moment and motioned for me to follow him.

"But?" I pushed, worried since it clearly had something to do with Maya.

"Maya was taken by him, he was intending to eat her. He must have gotten the idea to take her after she had confessed to me earlier today…" he trailed off, his finger tips bracing against the door to her room.

"Oh my god, what?! Kurama she confessed? Did you say yes?!" I squealed excitedly.

"Anastasia stop." Kurama chastised me. He never used my full first name unless he was angry or very serious.

"Sorry…" I blushed as we entered her room. I gasped and ran to her bedridden form.

She was knocked unconscious, the weight of what happened finally settling in the room.

"I managed to save her, but not before she saw everything…" he came to stand beside me, hands pressed tightly in fists.

"So she knows now? No more secrets?" I was elated, excited. I couldn't help it. Finally, someone else.

"She knows, but not for long. I can't allow her to know our secret, be at risk, for her life and ours." He was serious.

"That's not fair!?" I yelled standing suddenly.

"This isn't up for debate."

"The hell it isn't! She is our friend, it's clear that you care for her!? You can't just toss her aside!" I was seething, I was loosing it and I felt a burning in my chest and I knew in that moment I had crossed a line with him.

"I have already given her a tonic to wipe her memory, I figured you'd want to say goodbye. You have five minutes." And just like that he walked out of the room slamming the door.

I flinched and felt hot tears pouring down my face.

I felt like I had lost everything that day. I was so mad at Kurama and I blamed him immensely for everything childishly.

It was weeks before we talked properly again. It was a crisp winter morning when I found him standing outside my house with a grim smile.

I shyly returned the smile and he held out his hand taking my bag from me.

"I'm…sorry, I wasn't sensitive to how hard this would be to you, you aren't…used to this kind of life." He was picking his words diplomatically.

I licked my lips and gave a huge sigh.

"No…I was an absolute childish bitch; I didn't take it seriously or think about how hard it was on you." I was avoiding his eyes, knowing if I turned to see his sad look I'd start crying.

"You're lonely." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Yeah, but not that lonely, I do have you after all." I smiled at him this time locking eyes.

It went by unspoken, but I knew he felt the same way. I could tell the small changes in his demeanour now, thanks to the link.

Or maybe it was because I was getting to know him well.

~Flashback End~

Maya ended up transferring schools before I ever saw here again, something about her Dad getting a new job in Tokyo so they had to move. I always suspected Kurama had something to do with it, but he was just as surprised as I was. All he said was that it was in our best interests she had changed schools anyways.

I resented him for awhile, I missed her, she was my only female friend.

No matter how luscious Kurama's hair was, he just didn't satisfy all my social needs. Ha ha bad joke, but seriously. I couldn't have him as my only companion forever. But attachments were risky, I knew that, I understood that, I even agreed, but I didn't have to like it. Anything I did could get the poor fox killed. It was kind of a heavy reminder to be careful.

So here we were, stuck with each other for better or for worst.

I wasn't sure what we'd do in adulthood when the need for romantic companionship took hold. We couldn't go as a matched pair and play the polygamy angle. As unpopular as it was in America, it was more so in Japan. Taboo even.

Plus, that thought was just weird. No thanks.

'Hello, I know we've only been dating a few months, but this is my demon soul counterpart and we come as a pair! Love you sweety!'

"Must be some kind of daydream for you to be out this long." Kurama laughed shaking me from my thoughts. I turned to look up at him. He had changed a lot over the years. He grew taller, bulked up a bit more, and his face lost its baby fat entirely.

He was absolutely beautiful. So much so I had taken up drawing him in our spare time while we practiced, well lets be honest, what I did wasn't really practicing anymore so much as it was finding out what I COULD do, using spirit energy

I had picked up drawing when I was 13 at Kurama's insistence, we were now 15. He said I needed something to focus on and to put time and energy into that wasn't worrying and fretting about my less than agreeable energy and poor fighting ability.

I got mad at him for such an intrusive comment, but he was right. I had been working myself into an early grave with all my worrying and practicing.

So I had started sketching anything and everything. I was actually getting good at it. Maybe I should have been an artist instead of a dancer in both my youths.

But to get back on track, we were on our way to the hospital to visit his mother. She had gotten sick a few months ago and it was looking pretty dire.

I wish I remembered if this happened in the anime or not. I felt so terrible.

She had collapsed one day at work and they discovered an inoperable brain tumor she had probably had for years. It had started to cause seizures at first until one day it started to affect her heart and the doctors warned her days were numbered. I didn't remember 100% all my training, plus I hadn't gotten my Neurology rotation before my untimely departure from my previous life, so I wasn't sure what kind she had.

Kurama never spoke about it much, opting to instead focus on training and looking for cures for his mother.

He was obsessed.

He had asked me a lot of questions after learning my previous area of study, however I don't think I was much help as he had stopped confiding in me a few weeks ago.

He was so distant lately. His hair was messy, for him anyways, and he hadn't tidied his room since his mother had entered the hospital's hospice.

I wasn't quite sure what I could do to help, he was always so tense, ready to pounce at just about anything.

Until yesterday…yesterday he seemed a lot more like the Kurama I had first met, calm, collected, a charmer.

I was even more worried if that was possible.

"You sure you don't want me to hang out with you tonight?" I asked for the umpteenth time.

He shook his head with a forced smile, "It's ok Ana, I am fine, you need to rest as we have midterms soon." He was right, my grades were slipping lately…

"I know, but still, I feel like you need someone here for you right now." I had stopped him by grabbing his hand.

"It's ok Ana, really, I need to study as well." He squeezed my hand and let it go, reaching for the hospital doors and holding them open for me. I had a bad feeling about this, but I couldn't deny him time alone.

He was very guarded lately, he had learned a year ago I could feel him through the link and was making strides to keep me out so I didn't suffer if he was hurt again.

I also think it was so he had privacy, not that I blamed him.

I returned a superficial smile as I thanked him as I entered the hospital. He was the perfect gentleman, no wonder all the girls at school wanted to be with him.

Not that he'd given that topic the time of day. Not since…

No, let's not go there, we've had enough tears for today.

The receptionist smiled at us as we headed towards the elevators leading to the hospice ward.

Shiori was a wonderful woman, I remember when I had first met her, she had pretty much declared me her daughter and was planning Kurama and I's wedding. She knew we weren't together nor interested in each other like that, but she still used it to poke fun at her way too put together teenage son.

I must admit, I found the rare moments she got him speechless to be the best. He was always so guarded, it was refreshing to see him break his persona and be a teenage boy even for just a moment.

"Well if it isn't my daughter in law, how are you Ana?" She greeted, struggling to sit up.

"Mother don't push yourself." Kurama chastised lightly as he hurried to help his mother sit up.

"Oh stop it, I am fine enough to sit up on my own Shuichi, now stop fussing and let me say hi to my future daughter-in-law!"

"Mother!" Kurama groaned, hiding his light smile behind annoyance.

"Hello mother-in-law." I joked back, enjoying the small breathy laugh I received from the older woman.

"Not you too." Kurama groaned as he took a seat beside his mother.

"Yes me too, besides we never said I had to marry you now did we!" I countered as I pulled a chair next to Kurama.

"I'm an only child."

"So far." I responded. He shook his head and didn't bother continuing as he turned his attention to his mother.

"How have you been feeling?" he inquired.

"Alright, the doctors say my current medication regiment is showing good results." She smiled.

I knew what that meant, it meant they were managing her pain and symptoms, but time was still running out.

I took a moment to scan over her chart and noticed she had a week, maybe two tops. Damn. She was playing it up for the sake of Kurama getting through his midterms.

Kurama and I stayed for an hour before I had to go home, my parents were expecting me and had pushed my tutor's time back an hour so I could see Shiori today. They knew how little time she had left and wanted to give me time to spend with the woman who had become like a third, no, second mother to me. My first mother was hardly a mother. That much I remembered.

~Break~

Kurama wasn't at school the next day. I was concerned but I was still alive so I knew the worst couldn't have happened.

Something could have happened to Shiori but I can't picture him not telling me if she had died.

So why wasn't he answering his phone?

"Ms. Mukai, please put down your phone!" Mrs. Yuki exclaimed as she caught me with my phone out. Shit, I probably shouldn't have been checking to see if he had texted back during class…

"Detention today after class, you will be cleaning the classroom in the stead of the current students in charge this week." She briskly replied as she turned back to the board.

Well fuck me sideways.

~Break~

I was in the midst of sweeping when I heard my phone ring and I jumped at my desk, tossing the broom in the process. I pulled it out and answered it only to find it was my mother asking where I was.

"Sorry mama, I forgot to tell you I was cleaning the classroom today after school." I replied anxiously.

"I thought you didn't have cleaning duty till the end of the month?" Shit, of course my mom paid attention to my school schedule.

"Well you see…the thing is…"

"You got in trouble didn't you." I could positively see her rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Sorry…"

"Its fine, just hurry up, don't forget you have your tutor today." She hung up after I responded I would be home shortly.

I wasn't able to pay attention to my tutoring session at all that night either. I still hadn't heard from Kurama and I was becoming deeply concerned.

It wasn't until I was tossing and turning all night that I received a text from the ass.

'Sorry, was out today running errands, I'll see you tomorrow.'

Ugh what an asshole! I tossed my phone and turned over pissed beyond belief. I hope he felt it too, the ass.

~Break~

I awoke in the morning to a dead phone and sighed as I plugged it in forced to leave it at home today.

That'll teach me to fling things in anger.

I got ready for the day. I showered, ate breakfast, and blow-dried my hair in a rare occurrence of having my now long hair down for the day. I bid my mother and father bye and exiting my house a little later than I'd have liked.

I arrived at school about 5 minutes before bell and I rushed to put my belongings away and get to class. I arrived just before bell and quietly sad down, Kurama was already seated and reading a book.

He was now seated behind me, after 2 years we had a few more M names in class so we had been separated.

Today it was a blessing, I wasn't ready to face him yet with my accusations.

"Good morning Ana." He greeted warmly. His book was already put away and he was ready for class.

"Good morning Shuichi." I responded trying to keep things light. However, I knew he could hear the terse tone, but he was cut off as the teacher began the lecture.

Small graces and all that.

The day flew by before I knew it.

Wait that was a lie.

It actually dragged on excruciatingly. I could feel the eyes on the back of my neck the whole time from Kurama's questioning gaze. I didn't know what I could do except keep my head down and try to work.

It wasn't like Kurama hadn't tried to question me between lectures, but we didn't really have the time to get into it.

That and I always just asked him to hold on a minute while I finished a homework question. I wasn't actually doing homework, and I was pretty sure he knew.

So when lunch came he dragged his chair to the side of my desk and sat down.

"So." He led in, giving me a chance to prepare myself as he unpacked his lunch.

"So." I responded back clearing my throat. The room suddenly felt too hot.

"Is there a reason you are avoiding me?" He arched his brow as he stared pointedly at me.

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Yes, you are."

"Why were you avoiding me?" I countered.

"I wasn't avoiding you."

"Well then I wasn't avoiding you either." I retorted simply taking a bite from my bento box.

'What I wouldn't give for a pulled-pork sandwich or corn bread right now.'

"I just wanted to…see how you were today." He smiled a fake smile and I licked my lips.

I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"I'm ok, are you ok?" I had stopped eating suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

"I'm fine, I'm seeing mom today, she's not doing well." He was looking out the window and he looked suddenly so small. It was a feat considering how much he had grown, but I was reminded of our mortality. Shiori and I were human, we were fragile, we didn't live long.

Would I live as long as a demon or would Kurama live as long as me and die when I die?

"Want me to come with you today?"

"No, mother wants me to focus on my studies so I'll be at the library tonight." He responded cutting me off from offering to hangout in any capacity.

He was up to something, but what?

~Break~

He had slipped out of school while I was cleaning the classroom, having detention still from the previous day.

Woohoo!

I headed home in the worst mood possible, at least I didn't have my tutor tonight. Saving graces again.

It was while I was walking through uptown I noticed a thick energy cascade over the area I was in. I stopped, standing tall, and looked around to see if I could spot the demon, or whatever threat it was.

I twisted around scanning the crowd and noticed an out of place green uniform.

Green uniform…

Yusuke! It was Yusuke I was feeling! But why was he here? He didn't live in this area from what I remembered.

He was talking to someone tersely before he started following the figure. As they turned a corner I saw a splash of familiar red hair.

Wait, why were they together? Yusuke should have just died and…and…

'It was always such bullshit that Kurama just kind of took Yusuke to the hospital, I mean really, he didn't even have to see Yusuke to use the mirror, it's lazy story telling is what it is!'

I had to grab the wall to hold myself up as a scene of a young girl jabbering on about Kurama. My head hurt and I couldn't quite put the pieced together. Her face was fuzzy and her voice sounded distorted, but everything was so clear it was as if I were actually there listening to her. But what was she going on about?

What Mirror?

Why would Kurama take Yusuke to the hospital to use a mirror?

I suddenly had a bad feeling and rushed to catch the next bus to the hospital, praying I'd be able to catch him before he used this mysterious mirror.

~Break~

I had just missed the bus and it was a 30 minute wait till the next one. I ended up walking most of the way out of impatience before I caught the next bus.

I had a terrible feeling about what I was missing.

Rushing into the hospital I blew through the doors, but not before a stabbing pain pierced my chest. I collapsed to the ground gasping. It felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out as my energy was trying to escape at an alarming rate.

I felt hands grabbing me, but could barely keep up with what was happening. I started to feel faint and I wasn't sure if I screamed as the world went black.

~Break~

And that's how I died a second time.

Ok that was an exaggeration.

I had passed out and awoke not long after, laying on a stretcher in the emergency room, connected to an IV and some monitors.

My nerve endings were still tingling and my head hurt like a bitch. I sat up confused and tried to get my bearings. It was then a nurse ran over to me.

"Oh dear, you're awake! Thank goodness, you just collapsed and your vitals started to go haywire before stabilizing a few minutes afterwards!"

"How long was I out?"

"Only a few minutes, thank goodness you have some colour back in your skin!"

"I have to go check on a friend, I'm sorry but can I go?" I was panicked now, was Kurama ok?

"Not until the doctor clears you dear." The nurse laid a hand on my shoulder easing me back down before she finished checking my vitals.

"Oh for fucks sake." I sighed out in English.

~Break~

The doctor ended up clearing me a few minutes afterwards with orders to rest and relax for the rest of the day, and tomorrow.

I know he was just being concerned as my episode had no medical reasoning that they could discern, but I knew what it was.

And it was time for Kurama to explain a few things.

~Chapter 2 End~

Authors Notes: I have Chapter 3 almost done so I'm hoping I can make a once a week update schedule. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and as always, please review, follow, or favourite. It always warms my heart and lights a fire under my ass to know you all enjoy this story.

A special thank you to my reviewers of chapter 1 Chibisensei110787 and Tasha!