Author's Note: Wow people really hate OC's. Not a single review on the first chapter, sigh. All I can say is that you guys are really gonna have to trust me on this one, I wouldn't write it if I didn't think it would be good. Leave a review and let me know I'm not in this alone.

Chapter 2

The fox sliced through the underbrush as the ground whipped by under his paws. The smells of the forest were all around him and filled his whole body almost enough to make him dizzy with ecstasy. Yoko loved to run in this form, loved the feel of the earth under his feet and the brushing of leaves and twigs alongside his slender body. He would have let out a yip of shear joy had he not at the moment been conducting serious business.

The wolf was not as graceful as it didn't so much move between the brush as plow directly through it making considerable noise which allowed the fox to judge how quickly it was catching up. The fox thought this was a very fun game indeed as he would allow the wolf's hot breath to barely reach the very tip of his exquisitely bushy tail before swishing it away and darting just out of reach again.

If the wolf knew it was being toyed with it certainly showed no malice. Even as it was very intent on capturing it's prey there was an unmistakable glean in it's eyes that showed it was having just as much fun as the fox was. The game's ending was always the same, eventually the wolf would tire and the fox would laugh and go free. While it seemed the predictability of it would eventually bore the usually insatiable kitsune, in this one instance Yoko made an exception.

The forest around him began to grow darker, but still he kept running, his ears pitching back to listen for the wolf. As the air around him became thick with fog, quite abruptly and without reason Yoko found himself concerned. He glanced back to signal the wolf that something felt amiss, but was surprised to discover the large dog was no longer chasing after him.

Skidding to an abrupt halt his eyes skimmed the area around him, but there was little that remained visible. The fog was far too dense and he was too low to the ground as he was. He considered that now might be a very good time to return to his other form when his thoughts were interrupted by a deep and low growl nearby. It would seem the wolf had followed him after all. Undaunted he turned toward the sound and took a few steps pausing as the animal came into view.

The wolf was looking away toward something Yoko could not see. When he tried to approach closer, the wolf's head snapped around to face him. Yoko let out a startled yelp and very nearly took a step back. Gone was the playful look the wolf had worn during their game. Instead it's eyes were as red as the darkest blood Yoko could ever remember spilling. It's fangs appeared yellowed and sharper than possible for a wolf so young.

Before Yoko could even consider the possibility that this was not his ookami the beast sprang and clamped it's fangs around his neck. Yoko could feel the blood seeping from his fur, could taste it on his tongue and smell the hatred emitting from the once friendly creature. What could have happened to change his wolf so?

Swinging his head violently the fox was finally able to make eye contact with his assailant and in that moment he saw his own impending demise.

"Shuichi."

The fox struggled to get free, but the teeth only dug in harder the blood now pouring free, his once glorious fur dark and matted.

"Shuichi."

Yoko kicked furiously, why were his powers not saving him? Why did the plants not hear his pleas? What could make his ookami turn on him? The darkness began swelling over him, his eyesight growing dimmer by the second. He only half heard the wolf chuckle deep in it's throat, the action vibrating through his weakened fox body.

"Shuichi," it growled, eyes glowing like fire embers.

Kurama jerked upright, his heart still pounding like a drum in his ears. His breath was coming out in short pants nearly causing him to tremble. His pale skin was slick with sweat and the bedsheets damp and tangled around him.

"Oh dear, Shuichi are you alright? I didn't mean to wake you so suddenly, but I'm afraid you've overslept this morning," Shiori said from the doorway. Her usually pleasant voice unable to fully mask her concern.

Kurama wanted to reassure her, but found it impossible at first to even make coherent words form from his shaking lips. Instead he pushed back his hair and worked his legs free from the blankets first.

"I'm all right Mother," he said at last, his voice sounding weak to his own ears.

"Are you sure Dear? You really don't look well this morning, perhaps you'd like to stay home and rest some more?"

Kurama shook his head quickly, the very last thing he wanted to do was sleep more right now.

"I'd better hurry and get ready now Mother, sorry for worrying you." he offered a smile as proof that he was indeed fit to face the day. Shiori returned the smile, but her eyes betrayed her sympathy. It wouldn't be the first time she had worried over her son. And sadly Kurama knew, in his heart, as he watched her close the door and leave, it was likely not to be the last.

Hiei seemed unusually talkative this morning, much to Kurama's dismay. He knew it was the yokai's way of trying to make up for not staying for dinner the day before and ordinarily Kurama would have been happy to maintain his side of the banter, but today he could scarcely concentrate on Hiei's words.

"today?" Hiei asked, easily keeping up with Kurama's brisk " in a hurry" pace. Kurama said nothing.

"Fox!" the fire demon half shouted, stopping on the sidewalk to stare at his friend.

Kurama stopped and looked back at the clearly frustrated yokai. He then realized for the first time that he had been completely absorbed in thought.

"I apologize Hiei, what were you saying?"

Hiei just gave him a confused look and continued walking, a slight scowl twisting his features, Kurama sighed. Difficult as Hiei could normally be, when he was sulking he was at least one hundred times worse. Kurama tried desperately to think back to what his friend could have been saying.

"What did you want to do today?"

"Me? Well personally I wouldn't mind heading over to the Makai, finding some lower class demon to toy with and eventually decapitate him and drink his blood like a fine wine," Hiei replied gruffly, "But I somehow thought you might prefer going to check on your garden."

Kurama couldn't help, but feel a tiny smile tug at the corner of his mouth. Hiei sense of humor did have its moments. It was a shame so few people got to experience it.

"I would enjoy that, as well as your company if you didn't mind."

"I did suggest it."

They were fast approaching the tree that marked how close Hiei would get near the ningen school. As expected the yokai stopped right at that spot and looked up at his friend.

"I'll meet you here after school lets out," Kurama said.

"Try to be on time for once," Hiei replied his tone bored, as though it made no difference to him one way or another. Kurama knew better and made a mental note not take any longer than necessary to return to his little fire demon.

"I'll see you then," Kurama said with a wave as he turned back toward the school. He wondered if he should apologize again for being so spaced out on the walk over, but when he turned back Hiei had already left.

To his dismay Kurama discovered that his lack of focus seemed to follow him throughout the day. More than once he had to ask a teacher to repeat the question they had asked of him. The teachers seemed a bit taken aback by this as he was typically the most intense of students. When the school day finally came to an end, signaling the start of the weekend, no one was more appreciative than Shuichi Minamino.

True to his word as always Kurama was among the first throngs of students to escape the building that day. Hiei gave a surprised nod when he saw the fox bounding towards him. They exchanged short greetings and were quickly on their way to the park.

The city park was located a few blocks from the school in the opposite direction than Kurama's home. The park was well maintained, but with nothing particularly impressive about it. There was a playground to one side and a small duck pond on the other with a wide field of trails and benches caught between them. Along the northern most side of the area, a bit further down the trail than all but the most avid joggers cared to go there was a very dense, very tightly packed grove of trees.

Local teenagers used to try to squeeze past the tree trunks hoping to find a place between them to party while they were supposed to be in class. Sadly the idea was soon abandoned once it was discovered that the trees were planted so closely together that when you attempted to get between them they almost seemed to close in on you. After the third or fourth teen had to be rescued by the fire department for somehow wedging themselves between the lower branches the local kids decided that this particular grove held nothing of interest for them. How right they were.

As the two demons approached the grove Hiei dashed off quickly to check the area and make sure there were no hiking trail enthusiasts nearby before returning and letting Kurama know the area was clear. The red head stepped forward and laid his hand gently on the trunk of one of the trees. There was a soft popping sound as the trunk slowly bent to the side revealing a path. As soon as they were both safely on the path behind the tree, the trunk creaked again and returned to it's original position.

It was packed so tightly against it's brothers that not even a hint of light shone through. This mattered not at all to the kitsune who had been responsible for laying the trail and taming the trees. He walked quickly down the path with the yokai at his heels. Hiei didn't have the advantage of knowing the path so well, despite having visited it often. Each time he came he would still grumble about the visibility and inevitably either bump into or brush against the fox as he stumbled in the darkness. Kurama never seemed to mind.

After a sharp turn left the path opened up again and emptied into a seemingly open area. The sunlight above shone down almost blinding the dark haired boy, as it always did. Kurama's smile came easily now as he surveyed the garden. Plants and flowers grew wild all through this area. Protected on all sides by his tree barriers. The garden even lay claim to a modest pool of impossibly clean water that fed all the plant life. In the very center grew the most elegant rose bushes imaginable, Kurama's pride and joy. It was here he went first as he began tending his plants.

Hiei, for his part, showed no real interest in the foliage. Instead finding himself a comfortable spot on the grass and laying down in the warm sun. Occasionally Kurama would feel those crimson eyes on him while he worked, but whenever he glanced up Hiei appeared to be quite indifferently napping. Still that didn't stop Kurama from checking.

When he had finished tending everything that needed attention and collecting a few seeds to take home with him, for various reasons, he gently woke the little yokai and the two of them began making their way back toward the exit.

Leaving the garden undetected was a little more challenging then getting in. Since they had no way of knowing if some passing human would be standing there to greet them dumbfounded. As such they typically stood at the exit a few moments longer than necessary until Kurama felt sure he did not hear any sounds coming from the other side.

Hiei had initially mocked his caution, but now he merely accepted it as a part of the protocol that the fox always followed when visiting the garden. No different than how he always tended the roses first. Once Kurama had decided that the coast was clear he repeated the procedure that had let them enter the path and they quickly found themselves standing back on the trail in the public park.

"I really appreciate you coming along today Hiei," Kurama said, picking his words carefully, "I'm afraid today has been rather trying for me."

Hiei said nothing, but looked as if he might when a sharp noise caught his attention. Both demons turned toward the noise and Kurama's blood ran cold in his veins.

There at the end of the trail, standing slightly behind a smaller patch of trees stood the biggest wolf either had ever seen. It lowered it's ears and locked eyes with Kurama, a low growl emitting from it's throat.