Dark: Hello! Welcome back! I am so happy that you enjoyed my story! I would like to thank…
Akari Neko-Chan
Fox Girl
Rsaenz276
IRrainbow
I hope you enjoy the next chapter. Read and Review!!
Even as she said it, Kurama heard his family's car pull into the driveway. A few seconds later, the front door opened and he heard his mother's voice shout, "Hello? Shuichi?"
"Coming Mother." He grabbed her hand and led her into the living room.
Raissa smiled when she saw the woman from the picture race forward when she saw Kurama to give him a motherly hug. "Hello, honey," she said as she released her son, "How have you been?"
"I'm fine, Mother." He turned to look at Raissa from over his shoulder and pulled her forward by her hand, "Mother, this is a friend of mine, Raissa. Raissa, this is my mother, Shiori. Raissa was living in an apartment in the city when her building caught fire. She doesn't have anywhere to live so I invited her to stay here. Is that alright?"
"Shuichi! How dare you do such a thing without asking me!" Shiori admonished her son.
Bowing low, Raissa said, "I am sorry for burdening you, Madam. I will take my leave at once."
Shiori gripped her shoulders and pulled her up, "Hush, don't speak such things. You are welcome to stay here. I was just saying a little warning would be nice."
"It was a fire, Mother. It was rather sudden so there was no time for a warning," Kurama explained.
"It doesn't matter. You're here now and you're safe," Shiori smiled brightly at Raissa.
"Mother, her clothes were destroyed in the fire. Do you think you have any of your old stuff she could wear?"
"Oh! Of course. Come with me, dear," Shiori said as she grabbed Raissa's hand and pulled her into the room she had been in with Kurama. "I don't know if I have anything that might fit. You're really tall but I am sure I can find something," Shiori stated as she looked up at Raissa's 5'11".
As Shiori bustled around the room, looking for clothes, Raissa stood in the middle of the room, listening to the conversation going on back in the living room.
"Shuichi, you know better than to surprise your mother like that," A man's voice said.
"I am sorry, Father but I didn't have much of a choice. I won't allow her to live on the streets," Kurama answered.
"Yeah Dad, that would have been cold," a boy's voice stated and she knew that must be Shuichi which meant the other voice belonged to Kurama's father.
"Doesn't she have any family she could live with?" Kurama's father insisted.
Anger, pure and cold, was present in Kurama's voice as he spoke, "No she doesn't. If you don't want her here, fine. We will find somewhere else to go."
"Here you go, dear," Shiori said, startling Raissa. Shiori frowned and said, "What's wrong, dear?"
"Your husband does not want me here," Raissa whispered and watched as something flickered in Shiori's eyes.
"He doesn't, does he? Well, I'll go talk to him. Excuse me a minute," she smiled at Raissa before determination flitted across her face and she started for the door.
Raissa listened as Shiori stormed into the living room. It was hard not to hear her yelling about insulting their guest, his selfishness, and how he would be sleeping on the couch until she felt he was worthy enough to be allowed back in her bed. Then, Shiori reappeared in the room. "Okay, dear. Try on the clothes and see if they fit."
Later that night, Raissa was brushing her hair, looking into the vanity mirror in the guest room while Kurama sat on the bed, watching her. "I'm sorry," she blurted out suddenly.
"Whatever for?" Kurama asked.
"I was the one who told Shiori what your father said," she explained.
Kurama chuckled, "I wondered how she knew what he was saying when she was upstairs in her room. Do not worry. He got what he deserved, in my opinion. Truthfully, I wanted to do much worse to him."
She finished brushing her hair and braided it. She tugged at the hem of the large t-shirt she ended up borrowing from Kurama and a pair of blue pajama pants from Shiori. "I guess I'll go to bed now."
Kurama gracefully jumped off the bed and said, "Alright. Sleep well. If you need anything, I'm right down the hall." Raissa nodded as she climbed under the covers. "Tomorrow, you will get to meet some of my other friends that are like us. They will take you shopping for clothes that you can wear while you're here. Then, Monday, you will have to come to school with me."
She perked up at that, "I get to go to ningen school?"
"Yes. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Kurama's deep sleep was interrupted when the door to his room opened. He sat up, his rose in his hand but he froze when he realized it was Raissa. "Raissa? What are you doing here?"
"I had a nightmare…and I was scared," Raissa replied shyly. Kurama scooted over on the bed and patted the spot next to him. She laid down next to him and closed her eyes. Kurama scooted up until he rested his back against the head board. Remembering Raissa telling them she was part kitsune, he placed his hand on her head and scratching. She began purring and was sound asleep in no time. Kurama smirked and settled in for the night.
The next morning, Kurama woke to a knock on his door. "Shuichi, I went into Raissa's room this morning to give her some clothes but she wasn't…" Shiori stopped talking as soon as she saw the scene in her son's bedroom.
Kurama was leaning against the head board, one arm on the bed next to him while the other was wrapped around Raissa, who was lying on the bed next to Kurama's leg with her head on his thigh. "She had a bad dream last night and didn't want to be alone. Nothing happened, Mother."
Shiori smiled, "I know. You are too honorable to do anything to your friend. I trust you."
"Thank you, Mother."
"I have some clothes for her. Send her to my room when she wakes up. Anything special you two are doing today?" Shiori whispered.
"We are going to our friend's house and hanging there for a while. Then we're going to buy her a few things," Kurama answered.
"Does she have enough money…"
"My friends and I intend to pay for everything, Mother," Kurama reassured her.
"Good. I expect only the best for her."
"Of course, Mother."
"Will you be home in time for dinner? Your father has to work late and Shuichi has baseball practice."
"Yes, Mother. We will be back by then."
"Okay, dear. Have a good day." She walked to the side of the bed and pecked Kurama on the cheek. Then she leaned down and pecked Raissa on the head. Then, she took her leave.
"She's sweet. I like her," Kurama looked down to see Raissa staring up at him.
"She's the best."
Raissa removed her head from his leg and propped herself up on her elbows, "Is she the reason you didn't return to Makai?"
Kurama nodded, "Now, I think this is a discussion better left for when there are no ningens around to eavesdrop. How about we get dressed, get some breakfast, and head out to the temple?"
Raissa blushed when she realized he was shirtless and asked, "Temple?"
Raissa was dressed in a pair of jean shorts, a black t-shirt, and a pair of red converse. She sat at the table, eyeing the bowl of cereal placed before her.
Kurama watched her out of the corner of his eyes as he ate his own bowl of cereal. Smirking behind his spoon, he spoke to her mentally, 'It's not going to attack you.'
'It doesn't look appetizing. And look! It's turning the milk brown!' she replied.
Kurama chuckled mentally, 'It's supposed to do that. It turns it into chocolate milk. Try it. It is good, I swear.'
Raissa looked at him in disbelief. With weariness, she grabbed the spoon and brought a spoonful to her nose. She sniffed it first before she put the spoon in her mouth.
"Geez, Shuichi! Your girlfriend is weird!" Shuichi shouted to Kurama.
Kurama's retort was cut off by Raissa. Both of their heads snapped her direction when they heard her gasp. Her face's expression was one of pure shock. She froze for a second before she squealed and dove into her cereal with fever.
Kurama laughed, "I think she likes chocolate."
When they arrived at the temple later, Raissa hung back while Kurama stared for the stairs. He paused when he realized Raissa wasn't with him. Turning back, he asked, "What's wrong, Raissa?"
Wide eyes turned to him, "Do you think your friends will like me?"
"Of course," he responded instantly. "What would make you think they wouldn't like you?"
Her answer was instant, "My mixed blood."
"Hn, like we care about your origin," a voice from the tree above her startled her and she gripped Kurama's arm in fear.
"Hiei, it's not nice to startle people like that," Kurama said calmly, used to Hiei popping up out of nowhere.
"Hn. The others felt your presence and wondered why you weren't coming up."
"We are going up right now," turning, he smiled to Raissa and took her hand before he led her up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs was a beautiful temple with training grounds and not far off was a forest. "It's beautiful," Raissa whispered.
"Thank you," a gruff voice stated and she looked down to see a woman with faded pink hair and beady black eyes. Recognizing her as Genkai from Kurama's description, she bowed respectfully.
"It's nice to see someone still has respect for their elders," Genkai muttered. "Come in, girl and meet the rest."
"Raissa, this is Yukina," Kurama introduced her to a young woman with sea foam green hair and crimson eyes. "She is a Koorime."
Raissa smiled shyly, "Hello, Miss Yukina."
"Nice to meet you Miss Raissa. If you will excuse me, I need to go check on the kettle."
"And this is Keiko and Shizuru. Keiko is Yusuke's girlfriend," Kurama indicated a brunette with large brown eyes. She smiled at Raissa until she saw Yusuke and went to yell at him about something but Kurama was speaking again so she missed what Keiko was yelling about, "Shizuru is Kuwabara's older sister." This brunette was tall, around her height and she smiled.
"Welcome to the group, kid."
The rest seemed to accept her easily enough. Yusuke and Kuwabara were rather funny once you got used to their fighting and yelling. Yukina was sweet and innocent. Keiko and Shizuru were a little raw on the nerves but it was funny to watch them get mad at Yusuke and Kuwabara. Hiei was rather unsocial and didn't speak much except to insult Kuwabara. Botan was hyper and energetic and Raissa just got tired listening to her.
She wasn't very comfortable with all the people surrounding her so when they all settled down in the living room, Kurama sat down on the couch and she sat on the floor in front of him.
"Do you want to sit on the couch? Keiko asked as she moved over to make space for her on the couch but Raissa shock her head.
"It's alright. I am fine where I am," Raissa smiled softly and turned her attention back to the fight going on. Kuwabara was trying to defend himself from the insults Hiei and Yusuke were shooting at him.
After a few hours of hanging out, Keiko said, "Alright girls. It's time to go!" Botan squealed as she launched herself to her feet from the chair she was sitting in and Yukina giggled excitedly.
Shizuru smirked and walked over to Raissa, holding out her hand, "Time to go, kiddo."
Raissa was confused as she looked over her shoulder at Kurama, "Go where?" she asked as she took Shizuru's hand and was pulled to her feet.
Keiko smiled evilly with a glint in her eyes that made Raissa uneasy, "It's time to go shopping."
"Shopping?" Raissa asked, kind of nervous as her eyes flickered to the others in the room, who were watching her with sympathy.
"It's a pastime for ningen girls," Kurama explained.
'Why do I get the feeling that I am about to embark on a dangerous journey?' Raissa thought.
'Because you are.' A voice in her head replied and while she tried to recognize the voice, Keiko and Botan began dragging her towards the door.
Dark: Hope you enjoyed! Review please and I will get the next chapter up as soon as possible! Hugs!!!!
