What are you writing, witch?" Takedo said, grabbing at Kuri Hikawa's red book. "Cmon...lemme see."

"I'm a miko. And I was trying to think of a way to make your outside reflect your putrid inner self." Kuri retorted.

Kuri had shoulder length black hair and bright blue eyes. She was wearing the red and white Mugen uniform.

Her classmate Shuichi Minamino, also known as Kurama, chuckled in spite of himself, and she smiled at him.

Kurama had long red hair and sharp green eyes. He wore the red Mugen male uniform.

"Shuichi." Kuri came over. "Please let me walk you home."

Kurama looked at her. Was she trying to protect him from something?

"Thank you, but I don't need—"

"But I insist." Kuri pressed. "I wanted to see if your family was interested in becoming patrons of the Hikawa shrine."

Kurama began to walk with her. "You are the miko who solved the Sendai Hill Kidnapping."

Kuri blushed. "They were spirited away. Easy enough to find...the openings to that Other World..."

Kurama stopped. He sensed an evil aura.

"Kurama...I will make this city mine..." the demon said.

"This is my city." Kurama said. "I warned you once before. Begone!"

"I cannot wait to see your face...when you see my leader." The demon said.

Kurama moved his hand to his pocket drawing three leaves when an arrow flashed by his face, destroying the demon.

"I had a feeling something was stalking you, Kurama." Kuri said. "Way to go facing off with it like that. You almost looked like a real demon."

She smiled at him, took his hand and lead him downtown.

Xxx

Hiei sat on the rooftop of Mugen Academy and looked down, watching Kuri and Kurama.

Normally he wouldn't care, but he had a soft spot for Kuri.

Hiei couldn't let anything bad happen to her; and he had a bad feeling.

He climbed down, and followed them.

Xxx

Yusuke Urameshi arrived home from school and saw Reiko Uchiha in the garden next door.

He smiled and went to the gate.

"Oi! Reiko!" Yusuke said.

Yusuke had black hair slicked black and chocolate brown eyes. He wore a green uniform.

He wasn't wearing the Mugen uniform, because he was skipping.

"Heya Yuu!" Reiko said. "Kuri late again?"

Reiko had red hair in a ponytail and bright blue eyes. She wore the Mugen uniform, and grinned at him.

"Probably got detention." Yusuke said. "Got anything in there besides girly flowers?"

"My strawberries are ripe!" Reiko grinned. "Don't you like any of the flowers?"

"Mm..." Yusuke picked an orchid from the tree and tucked it in her lap. "This one suits you."

A vine suddenly shot out and grabbed him, throwing him into the road.

Pain coursed through him as he was struck by a car.

Was this death?

"...Why...I thought..."

His hand reached out as Reiko ran to him.

Xxx

Kuronue passed by the scene in the garden.

Kuronue was wearing all black, mostly leather, and was carrying a pendant.

He watched the red haired girl run to the dark haired boy and try to help him.

It was a scene of a death curse. He knew because he had spent his life trying to escape one of his own.

His eyes locked on the girl as recognition blossomed momentarily, then faded.

He played with the pendant on his chest.

It was a dear gift, from someone.

But he could not remember...who.

And that girl, who was she?

He closed his eyes and was haunted by their faces.

Kuronue continued down the street, swinging his pendant, mind completely blank.

Xxx

Kurama held Kuri hand as the two walked home.

Bundled in in her arms was a fox plushie (he understood the irony) and a duck bath toy. He held in his other hand a bag containing a chocolate truffle dessert for his mother—it had been Kuri's suggestion.

He had never felt like this for a human other then a family member, and even so his feelings for Kuri were different then the natural protective urge he felt for the city and its people.

Kurama's eyes flickered to her face. She feigned innocence, but she was a miko. She must know him for what he was; but she did not out him, and made no mention of it. She waited for him to speak of it.

Everything, her scent, her chakra, the sound of her voice—drew him in. There was only one explanation—this little miko was his mate.

As he came to this realization however, a ninja in black brandishing a sword, Hiei, leapt upon them. Kurama lifted Kuri into his arms and leapt back.

"Consorting with a ningen...or is she your next victim?" Hiei said, attacking.

Kurama drew a leaf blade and, unceremoniously dropping Kuri and their parcels, went to battle.

"Shuichi! Let me help!" Kuri stood and drew her bow from beneath her shirt.

"No! Stay there!" Kurama growled at her, and drew Hiei into the darkness.

As soon as he was gone a demon appeared and reached out to Kuri.

"SHUICHI!"

XXX

Hiei slept and he dreamed.

Falling from the glacier village.

The bandits he had called family.

A woman fighting beside him. Always.

And the same ending, always the same ending.

"Brother..." a woman's voice. She had long dark hair. Her eyes were blue, face blurred. "Brother please...find the Shikon no Tama..."

He reached out to her, his burning hand touching her pale skin. A lonesome broken cry ripped through the darkness.

"Brother!"

Xxx

"Good you're awake." Kurama said. "Four hours is a fast healing rate."

Kurama looked at Hiei. "You called for someone in your sleep. Your sister."

"Hn..." Hiei snapped.

He stood, putting his shirt on.

"I'm going." Hiei stood. "And you...surely you heard her calling?"

"I heard." Kurama said. "I'm coming with you. We've wasted enough time already ttebayo...what should I call you?"

"Hiei." Hiei said.

The two were off, into the night.

xxx

"Hiei. Kurama. How nice to see you." Sadako purred at them.

She was a tall, pale onryo with sunken dark eyes and extremely long dark hair. She wore a white dress, but it was coated in blood.

"I just finished my dinner." Sadako said, eyes boring into Kurama. "She was delicious."

Kurama's eyes flashed gold and he attacked, but just as his leaf blade almost made contact, Sadako's eyes flashed blue.

"Please don't hurt me Shuichi!" Kuri cried.

Kurama jerked back as if stung.

"I'll kill her then." Hiei snapped.

Kurama put a hand on his chest, growling. "Don't touch her."

"That is your mate? You choose that?" Hiei growled back at him. "Fine then. But she's baiting you. And I still have questions for that monster."

Sadako took control back.

"Relax the both of you." Sadako smiled. "I was given new life. It's beautiful...rather like you, Kurama?"

"Don't compare us!" Kurama snapped.

In a sudden move, Hiei and Kurama had their weapons to her neck.

"You'll destroy your only chance for happiness Kurama?" Sadako said. "If I dies so does she!"

In response he pressed the leaf blade harder against her throat.

"Finish her." Hiei said.

"I intend to." Kurama said

Before they could stop her she was holding Kurama by the throat, crushing his windpipe.

He choked, reaching out to her. He mouthed one word, the only word he was thinking of.

"Kurisuta..."

Kuri awoke.

She looked around her, at the blood, at everything, and let out a horrified scream.

Xxx

"Shuichi..." Kuri leaned on his shoulder. "I had a nightmare."

"Yes. You hit your head. I'm taking you home." Kurama said.

"Yes...a bad dream..." Kuri leaned her head against him. "K-Kurama..."

She slipped into unconsciousness.

"The Pollen Of Forgetfulness." Hiei said. "You are a masochist. She is your mate. No matter what you do, you will long for her, pine for her. And now you've assured that you can never have her."

"It doesn't matter." Kurama said. "She will be happy. That's all I care about."

"Who are you trying to convince? Me? Or yourself?" Hiei asked. "And...I never heard your name."

"It's Kurama."