Chapter 2

Preparations

Third person POV:

It was an average day in the Minamino home. Shiori was running from place to place in the kitchen. She went from washing dishes to checking on the dinner that was cooking away in the oven.

Down the hall in the largest bedroom sat a boy. A boy with long, unnaturally red hair that caressed his back. At the moment, he was engrossed in a particularly lengthy autobiography.

Not everything is what it appears to be. Anyone looking into the window would see a studious boy in a loving home. But anyone who knew the real story would see a fox demon stuck in the guise of a human's body. Yet, this small detail has little effect on his overall personality. However, his personality is not the main focus of the moment.

"Shuichi, you should start getting ready for your company," his mother called to him.

"Yes mother," he responded in his casual and mannerable way. He sighed regretfully as he placed his mark in the book. Then, he made his way to his bureau to find something that his mother might deem suitable for guests. The spirit fox found a pair of dark dress pants and a white dress shirt. And he pulled them on.

"Ahh, you look so handsome," Shirori smiled from the door way. She loved her son very much and he always made her very proud.

"Thank you mother," he smiled back. "I hope that you enjoy your trip."

"I will, Suichi. Thank you so much for sending me." She was so proud of her serious son. Not to mention that she was happy. He was sending her on a three month cruise adventure.

Yes, she was excited, but at the same time she was worried about leaving him at home alone. Some part of her felt that he could be seriously hurt. That there was danger out there for him. So, she was very happy that her son's friend was going to stay while she was gone. Perhaps that would keep him safe and out of trouble.

"You're quite welcome, mother. It was nothing." She smiled again, and moved on to fine tune dinner. Kurama settled back into his chair and continued to read.

Soon after, there was a gentle 'tap tap' on the door. The fox sighed. He was never going to finish his book. None the less, he replaced his bookmark and went to open the door.

He flung it open to reveal a short, blue-haired boy with piercing and somewhat frozen blue eyes. His clothes were... odd to say the least. His shirt was made of a loose black overshirt with a long-sleeve mesh top under it. And his pants were black and of the same loose, black material.

"Hello Touya. How are you?" Kurama smiled, his green eyes flashing brightly. He was glad to see the young ice master.

"Hello, Suichi. Quite well and how about you?" Touya asked. He stumbled over the name, because he wasn't used to it.

"Delightful. Now, please come in," the fox smiled.

Touya, the young ice master, stepped past his friend his eyes darting and taking in everything that was going on around him. "You have a beautiful home."

"Thank you. Though, I can take little credit. My mother is the decorator."

"Don't be modest, Suichi," Shiori smiled from the kitchen doorway where she had been watching the boys interact. Ah, the small young man was so very much like her son. The strange colored hair and the serious demeanor. "You've done a lot of the decorating around here."

She approached the small man warily. "Hello," she grinned. "I'm Shiori Minamino and Suichi's mom."

"My name is Touya," the ice demon replied, shaking her hand gently. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Minamino."

"You too dear." She turned to her son. "Dinner will be ready soon. I trust that you're hungry, Touya?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied shortly and quietly.

"It should be ready in about fifteen to twenty minutes. Until then, I suppose that you two want to catch up." And with that, she went back into the kitchen to finish her work.

"Perhaps, we should go back to my bedroom?" Kurama didn't want his mother to accidentally overhear their conversations. Touya nodded and followed his friend down the hall to a closed door. The fox threw it open and stepped inside.

Touya was impressed. This room was large in comparison to his previous lifestyle. The walls were paneled with numerous book shelves that were all fileld to capacity. The desk was neat with a few pictures of family and friends. He was very surprised to see a picture of himself and Jin.

Then he turned around and saw the large bed that dominated the center of the room and the massive window that overlooked the city.

"Please, have a seat," Kurama offered indicating a second desk chair that was directly across from him.

The ice demon complied, sittign on the end with his back straight. Kurama sat opposite him in the same way. Posture was very important to them both. It showed that they were proud, and ready at a moment's notice. "So, where is Jin today?"

Jin, the windmaster, was always with Touya. To see one was to seethe other. So, having Touya and no Jin was ...strange.

The icemaster smiled at the thought of the red-head. "He stopped off tot alk to Yusuke. He should be here soon."

"And how are the two of you doing?"

"Very well. Everyday's somehting different." He couldn't help but smile. Jin had a way of doing that to him.

"I'm happy for you."

"Thank you."

"I suppose you're wondering why I invited you over?" Kurama said, finally beginning the topic at hand.

"Of course, I was surprised and intrigued," the boy admitted. "What do you need?"

"I have to leave town for a short amount of time," the fox explained.

"Where are you going and how long will you be gone?" Touya asked, already clearing his mental schedule for the next two or three weeks.

"Demon world. And as for how long... I'm not quite sure. No more than a month barring any unfortunate incidents." Unfortunate meaning fatal. Though, Touya knew that very well.

"Demon world?" Touya was surprised. As of a few weeks ago, Demon world had been sealed by a Kakai barrier. No demon abouve a D class could cross over anymore. "But the Kakai."

"Come now," Kurama chided, smirking slightly. "We both know that there are entranced everywhere if one knows where to look." The young man had to agree with that. Not even the SDF could seal all the holes into and out of Demon world. It was impossible.

"May I ask, what is so important that you're willing to risk not being able to come back?" It seemed almost like an unnecessary risk. THe fox had everything. What more could he want? What was worth losing everything that he had worked for?

"I intend to procure the seeds of a very important plant."

"All of this for some seeds? Is that really wise?"

"Perhaps not," the fox conceeded. No, it was not wise, but none the less he planned to continue. "But it is of a vital importance. Trust me, I would not make the trip if it was not really necessary."

The ice master sighed deeply. He was well aware of the fact that Kurama would not go if there was not a reason. It must be of the utmost importance. Now, he just had to decide whether or not to agree to do anything to assist him in his endeavor. "What do you want me to do? Watch over your mother while you're gone?"

"No, I'm sending her on a three month vacation get away. I just need you to check in on Yusuke and the others from time to time. Make sure that they're not doing anything stupid."

"With Jin here?" Touya scoffed. "That battle's lost before it even begins." Everyone knows that when you get those two together then there was guarenteed to be fireworks and property damage.

"True, but you can at least try to minimize the overall damage." Of course, the fox knew that that would not happen either. Chances were that it would be worse than ever with the ice master involve.

"Fine. I'll do it for you," Touya said. And he knew that he would have done it anyway from the beginning. He just had to bait him first.

"Excellent. If the two of you need a place to say, then you are welcome to stay here," Kurama offered, sitting back in his chair for the first time since he had sat down. Ah, the joys of getting what one wants. Nothing could compare.

"Thank you." And Touya also sat back. "Though, I do wonder about one thing."

"And that would be?" The fox leaned forward again out of curiosity.

Touya allowed a rare snicker to leave his lips. "Does Hiei know that you're leaving?"

A slight blush crossed Kurama's face. Surprisingly, he had not been expecting to be asked that. "It doesn't concern him."

"I'm sure that he would disagree," the boy smiled. This was some of the most fun that he had had since he dropped Jin off.

"Perhaps. But Hiei need not be privy to anything involving entrances to demon world." And it was true. If he was then he would be sure to make his escape as soon as possible. Which would be detrimental to him and his current free status.

"I understand. But maybe you should think on whether or not it's his best interest that you have in mind."

"And what are you implying?" Kurama demanded. Though he already knew. This was not the first time that they had had an argument like this. Nor would it be the last.

"That maybe you don't want Hiei to leave you."

Before the fox could say anything else on the matter, he was inturrupted. "Suichi, Touya. Dinner is ready."

"Saved by the bell. I suppose that we'll finish this later," he smiled.

"Of course. After a brief reprieve, we'll continue this and I'll get the answer that I want," the ice master smiled, as he stood. This time, Touya was the one to lead the way into the kitchen.

"We'll see about that," Kurama muttered with a smile on his face, knowing that he could be heard. "After all this game has just begun." And he exited his bedroom, pulling the door shut behind him. He then entered the kitchen with a smile on his lips and the glitter of excitement in his eyes.

Ahh, there's nothing like the thrill of a new mental competition with an equal. Let the games begin!

A/n:

Whoo-hoo! My third Yu yu Hakusho fanfiction and my first real chapter for it! I hope that it was good. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and remember to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;) .

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette