Moments passed before a word was spoken. Standing outside with Shuichi held a tension between us, like a chain pulling at our minds. His eyes took on that calculating stare again, trying to examine my soul as I crossed my arms. That was something I was not allowing, not now, before I thought he was just a kid who had a higher intelligence, the beginning of a story that he could turn great.

But the more I see him, the more I realize that He's already done that. He's not something to mess with, every instinct I had burned within me telling me to leave and to never cross paths with him again. They were the eyes I imagined I would have, cold, unyielding even in the presence of someone who he himself has called a friend. And honestly, I would not be surprised if I was giving him the same treatment. I wanted to know who he was, what he was. He had to be something, I myself was a huntress reborn in the body of what I still call a child, what would he be himself?

But honestly, I really did not want to know.

The thought was driving me mad in those few moments, I wanted to know so bad, what the hell was Shuichi? Who was my red headed classmate, that boy who always seemed to have a come back even when silent? But even so, what if it was something bigger that could lead to my second end?

"Shall I be the first to ask what your involvement in this is?"

That only caused my gaze to narrow, my arms crossed in a barrier as I still tried to turn over his mind yet nothing was giving answers. "That depends, you see in my customs the exchange of information should be given first if your asking a question as a ally. Though if not than you could always interrogate me as a enemy." Wow, that was a different tune, I usually spoke to the guy with sass or something. No, now is not the time for that, there is only so much I can hide from him now, might as well drop the school girl act if I want to get to the bottom of this.

Though the more I look at him the more I realize that my sharp report caught him off guard a bit, myself leaning on a rail I wait for him to make the next move, a sigh escaping his lips as his shoulders slump a bit. Our stand off beginning to wane. "Vary well, information like that can be trusted by someone like yourself I presume, just remember that your own reputation will be on the line if you decide to speak of this to anyone."

Eyes widening a bit I lean to the right, I never heard Shuichi use a threat but I stayed silent. Waiting for his words to finally bring me from the dark.

"Shuichi is my human name, in truth I go by Yoko Kurama, a fox that roamed the same land that those insects came from. The spirit world."

I listened without a word, yet each one that spilled from Shuichi's, or Kurama's lips made it seem more and more from a fantasy. How he was a thief. a demon that has lived for hundreds of years only to be wounded and had to merge with a human. It was all out of a novel, even the name was from the same book I read not too long ago. Tales of scrolls, death at every corner to be outsmarted by the cunning fox.

Yet the more I thought about it, the more the pieces made sense.

That explained why Shuichi felt so strange to me. How he was a perfect rider while even champion showmen and women said I was insane. How he was unfazed by my hunting, he knew so much on every subject, even his smart remarks that were thrown out as if second thought all fit perfectly and I could not help but believe due to the simple truth that I myself was not so different. I was a few hundred years old, I was reborn, so if something like this could happen to me, whats to say there are not more worlds with more creatures that our own lore was made from?

"So, you explain how in your customs the exchange of information should be equal if I remember correctly, so its your turn to explain. And remember, I have some experience in knowing a liar."

Watching that same smirk I'm so used to him giving caused me to relax, but only slightly. A sigh escaping my lips as I looked out at what seemed to be a day that was bound for rain. "Aright, I guess I can't deny you but I can't go in the same detail as you. Honestly I have no idea how I tie into this. But for your first question, I was thrown into helping Boton because a Maki insect infected Blizzard and I wanted to figure out exactly what it was that made my horse go on a rampage." Watching the red head raise a brow he simply began to nod. "Its rare but they do sometimes infect animals, it may have been because of his short temper."

Of course he had a answer to that. But Blizzard did not have a short temper, he was just..okay he had a temper, but so what? Shrugging my shoulders I ran a hand through my hair, this was going to be difficult, I never really explained this to anyone but as the first word came the next followed. "Like I said, I have no idea how I tie into this. I'm pretty sure I'm a human, I just been around for a few hundred years. I actually was never given a birth name, the humans of this time gave me a title while I went by Kie as did the rest of my tribe, it was the meaning for human. But now in the history books you can find me by the name of Wild Mane."

I would be lying if I said that I didn't get satisfaction from the look or revelation on Kurama's face, I could just see the pieces of the puzzle he been trying to figure out come together one by one. "My life was simple, I was a huntress, I provided for my kin, I drank to my Yama and was killed by a tiger when I was 15 years of age, I had the pick of the males and females, hunted down my own kind over territory. In a sense I guess you can say I was reborn, I have all my memories of my past, I could still even remember what the taste of humans were since we ate our foes to gain their power. Now I guess we're in the same situation, trapped in a body in the wrong place and the wrong time."

"Yes but you seem to have made do. I have been wondering why you hold back so much during your archery practice, and the horses is a ploy to-"

"To find a animal that could give me the same rush as my stallion had done. I thought of that horse as though he were my own son and yet the last sounds I heard were his screams of agony due to his back breaking under his weight. he fell to a stone filled demise with me beneath him and than I wake to a body that is not and will never be my own." I could hear the cracking of my broken fingers yet they honestly did not feel like they were injured as I began to relive the same unrelenting truth that I will never be at peace in such a form. "This body belongs to Jihiro Yuki and I stole it from her, poor thing was never given a chance. Your in a close situation as my own yet I still envy you, from what I assume I believe you still how power, such a lucky thing you are."

I could almost hear him thinking, his arms no longer crossed as we find ourselves back on even terms. Nether of us are foes, just two creatures who happen to have crossed in a strange situation. His voice enough to pierce my mind I look back to him.

"If your that envious, than if you want I can help you awaken your old strength."

We began seeing each other a lot more after that. I agreed to Kurama's idea, walking back inside to be introduced to the gang of Kuwabara, Boton, and the sleeping Yusuke, my senses picking up another only for Kurama to confirm that an anti social squirt known as Hiei was probably around somewhere. Before I know it Ame tells me that schools been cancelled for a week, it was as if fate was opening a window to start my training in.

"Your skills are still sharp I see, marksmanship is slightly more impressive than I initially estimated. But for some reason your spirit energy is still at the same level when you shoot." A hand threw another blade of grass, sailing through the air for only a moment before it was pinned to a tree without a second thought. My bare feet standing in the foliage, enjoying the dew as we stood way out in the woods, a pair of horses tied a ways away as they grazed.

"Okay, lets see if I have this right, spirit energy is the power a creature has that allows it to go beyond its normal limitations right?" My fingers let loose another arrow, my eyes not even on the target as I watched the red head. "Thats the basic idea yes, in most cases its spikes slightly when one is feeling threatened or is forced to use one of their senses to a higher grade, like how Yusuke's has been on a steady rise because He's been throwing himself into harms way by training with Genki, the easiest way for it to gather for him is to prepare for a spirit gun or even a normal punch. Yet for yourself, every shot you made yours stays at a resting level, its higher than the average person but not by much."

We've been out here for a few hours every day, Kurama explaining how I was in a way a special project. Saying how since we're considered friends that I should have knowledge on this due to not being a normal person and all. But honestly, I feel no different when I shoot, we even tested if it would rise in the slightest if I was put under danger, using what he called a rose whip in a simple spar, yet even than my levels stayed the same, least thats what He's been saying. And believe me I felt I was threatened, He's a terrifying opponent, one who would kill without a second thought. Honestly he would have made a great kin member.

And it was infuriating.

I wasn't annoyed at him, actually he had a lot of knowledge on the subject, even demonstrating how he had control of plant life, and I could actually sense the new energy coming off of him. It was a strange sensation, like the rising of mist on a cold winter's day.
This became our new routine, he'd wake me up early, follow me to the barn, I would work with Blizzard for a bit and than we would train. He was not easy ether, he was cut throat, offering me techniques in hand to hand combat earned me bruising and soreness in every joint, offering me to hone what spirit energy I already had meant that I would stand perfectly motionless for hours on end.

But I was actually enjoying it.

I liked feeling I had purpose again, that I was working toward something rather than fighting to grasp what I had before. I missed being able to train with someone till the sun sank below the the horizon, panting and in pain yet feeling beyond satisfied that I was doing what I had been known to do. For the first time in a long time I could actually call myself the Kie instead of Jihiro Yuki and it was like breathing in clean air for the first time in years.

Not to mention that I finally had someone to talk to, to be able to actually tell stories about the past and to know that they realize that I was not talking about some woman from the past but the tales of myself and my kin, the customs of my true ancestor, he was a great listener, I could tell even before the demon thing that he has a thirst for knowledge and was genuinely interested in the tribes way.. And in return I eagerly enjoyed listening to some of his tales of his time as a thief though there were few he would speak of.

Even so, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was starting to make an actual friendship.

"Wait, you want me to see those guys again?"

My jaw probably dropped for a moment. the familiar sounds of city streets outside the small café was muddied as though behind a veil of thick fog. Forgetting my food I tried to find if the red head was just trying to mess with me while he still held that fox like charm I began to just accept that was apart of his sinister personality. Waiting for a yes or no I watched as Kurama nodded his head.

"And explain to me why I should meet up with your middle school friends with no manners? I would rather see the stand offish one you told me of than a pair of middle school punks, they remind me of the kids at the arcade who would cat call." I don't care if I sounded like I was whining, I had a thing against trying to make contact with people I dislike, and while I was unable to see Yusuke awake, Kuwabara was someone I did not get a good first impression of.

Still he chuckled at my irritation, a narrowed gaze yet one that he did not find intimidating in the slightest. Another thing I found from Kurama, intimidation dose not work unless you mean it with your vary soul. "Believe me I understand that Kuwabara may seem rude at first but hes actually a kind soul, he even has a warrior's code and takes in kittens, he just has a front he likes to put up and while he is young dose show promise like yourself. And believe me when I say that Yusuke is the same way, he may seem crude but he's actually a good kid."

Leaning back in my chair I reached out for a sip of my drink, craning my neck to look at the ceiling in thought. "Okay than humour me, why do you want me to see them in the first place?" As I spoke I could feel the change from him, causing me to lean forward to see the seriousness in his gaze. Another thing I had to get used to, while Shuichi was a care free easy going yet dare I say, sneaking little shit, he still reminded me of a teen, a person I trained myself to be around. Kurama though was grim, a creature who would speak of things I would not call light hearted and it was making me stay on my toes around him.

"Because the more you learn how to use your spirit energy the more dangers would be attracted to you. Lets get this straight Jihiro I'm teaching you this because you already know how to defend yourself even more so than Kuwabara, your long range skills are higher than even myself or Yusuke and you have also proven that your adapt at close range, but both are useless when it comes to battling demons, if you are caught now you have little hope of defending yourself and that is why its a must that you gain alley's aside from myself, I can't protect you while your learning this."

You know what, he was right, I was a bit hurt at the confession but he was right. With the stories he told and what he's shown me so far I'm no match for a demon. A small class demon sure but an actual demon like Kurama? No, actually whenever he used his spirit energy I realized that I would have no chance if he wasn't holding himself back so much. I stayed in a tribe for a reason, for protection, guess some things never change. The more friends you have the higher chance your survival is. "Fine I'll go, but just remember that I would sooner fall on my own blade than hold you back to the point I need protection from you. I was charged with protecting the females and children, I will not fall to their level new body or not."

"Yo Kurama, who's this? You didn't tell me you had a girl friend."

And like that I was already annoyed with Yusuke, the kid was okay when he was asleep, mainly because he was injured and I felt a slight ping of worry for him, like one I would have for any warrior. But now he was just a punk, hair slicked back with an entire bottle of gel, dressed in a school uniform that was dyed green. Honestly even his stance was annoying, Kurama's was lethal, a graceful calm thing that held the presence of a predator.

Yususke...well he was a punk, hands in his pockets head cocked to the side like he was better than everyone eles in the room yet he probably had a lower IQ than even Kuwabara. And yes, I value intelligence as you may have noticed, its an important quality.

Still I kept my mouth shut, narrowing my eyes in distance a bit as Kurama waved his hand. No no, this is Jihiro Yuki, we been training together since our last mission and I thought it would benefit us if we all knew each other." I just shrugged my shoulders, giving a wave as I leaned back, seems that caught Kurama off guard, guess hes forgotten that I'm not the chattiest person when it came to people that were not him or Jess. What can I say, I'm old.

"Yuki huh? A beautiful name for a beautiful woman, fate caused our paths to cross my love and I'm sure you can see the strings of fate." I watched as Kuwabara was waving his fingers, a strange puppy dog look on his face while he spoke causing me to roll my eyes. "No actually I do not nor will I ever see fate because its just something people made up to blame their problems on."

Laughter catching me off guard I looked over at Yusuke who pointed at his friend in his glee. "Wow Kurama who knew she was a riot. You shot poor Kuwabara down like a bird." And he was right, poor guy's face fell half way to Europa now.

We were at Kuwabara's house, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol making me cringe my nose a bit. But I tried not to cover it, had to be a little polite I guess. So I sat down, letting them interrogate me as I answered a few of their questions to try and get some allies out of them.

"So you a demon like Kurama and Hiei or human like us?"

I shrugged, "well in documents they say I'm a demon, but I'm pretty sure I'm still human." That only caused confusion to rest on their features as I waved them off. "Not a normal human lets go with that."

"And Kurama is teaching you why?"

"Cause he offered and I accepted."

Irritation seemed to spread over Kuwabara's face, looking to Kurama I could hear his amusement. "Jeez Kurama shes as bad as Hiei."

"Nah man I wouldn't say that, she hasn't called you stupid once yet."

Honestly the day could have went by worse. All we did was just watch a movie, me leaning against the wall I was actually interested when it was a film about the game goblin city, now this was something I could enjoy, Kuwabara's sister even coming in with snacks and saying she was sorry when she saw me. Well at least they had humour, it actually caused a chuckle to escape.

I guess I began to open up little by little at time wore on and I was become comfortable in the new environment. I explained how I was a horse trainer and that I focused mainly on hunting. The confession causing Kuwabara to look sick as he mumbled about how I was a killer of little animals. Hey, they may be little but they are tasty, delicious, little animals that put food on the table.

"Hey it was nice meeting you Yuki, you seem like a okay person." It was getting late and so I was saying goodbye to the gang, Yusuke offering the words of friendship as he held out a hand which I took. "Yeah, I'll admit I thought you guys were going to be just annoying but I guess you two aren't half bad."

Saying our goodbyes the two said to find them at the arcade any time during school. Of course they ditch, Kurama insisted he walk me home since he didn't want to worry my mother which I agreed to. Another thing we had in conmen, both of us could have left as soon as we gained some strength, yet the power of a caring human mother had us bound here.

The day was growing to the cooling evening, my hands twisting the beads in my mane as I absently looked toward the skies. The walk going through a comforting silence as our thoughts wandered this way and that. I wonder, what would Kurama be thinking about right now? Each time I tried to figure it out I came to the conclusion that it was probably something beyond my current comprehension.

Look at that, been hanging out with the guy for only a short time and my vocabulary has gotten bigger.

Still my day was not done when it came to dealing with guys that failed the first impression test. My nose flaring I caught the scant of charred woods mixed with something that was not human. My gaze coming forward I stopped my pace causing a look of what I could get was maybe impressed from my companion. "You can sense him huh? Well thats good I was beginning to think you were only attuned to my spirit energy."

"Well actually I can smell whoever he is but now that you think about it I do feel a hunter in that direction. Is he a friend?" Hands still in his pockets Kurama nodded, "yes He's a friend, a bit rough around the edges but one that you won't find harming you I assure."

As if the words were a summon a black form appeared out of nowhere, faster than sound itself I took a step back from the suddenness. A shorter male stood before us, cloaked in black with spiked up hair that held a white spiralling star in the centre. An almost annoyed glare poised at me yet I simply took the gaze with composure I learned from my past life. Good thing to cause this guy was intimidating, I could hear the hunter's blood in his veins.

"So you have another toy Kurama? Really why waste your time, her spirit energy is pitiful, even more so than the oaf."

He spoke as though I where not there. My hands in my pockets I clenched my fist, I was not used to being ignored like that and it was not something I was going to get used to. I was a huntress that was practically worshipped in my first life. Still I stayed silent, holding my tongue just to see what would happen.

"Because she shows promise and there is strength in numbers, believe me Hiei she is worth the time, for once there's someone who is already exceptional at fighting, she just needs her spirit energy and she'll be able to keep us with us." All Hiei did was roll his eyes, a tisk escaping him as his gaze narrowed onto my own, and i did not back down. I don't care what he thought I was, I will not back down from someone who decides to think that I am not worthy, human, demon god, I'll show them,

Moments passed by and I began to feel an old sensation, one that I thought I would never enjoy again. I was looking at a threat, I could tell he could kill me easily, he could end me before I knew what happened, and yet I was having a lustful thought of what it would be like to indulge in some past traditions, I could never do that in this body, what would my mother say if I add more blood to my hands. But the idea of killing someone in the name of Yama sounded so pleasing with him.

Wow Jihiro, your getting a bit gruesome aren't you, its probably all the spirit energy talk, yep, that is totally it, I'm not crazy, not at all.

And for some reason Kurama himself did not move, he simply observed., the wind moved passed us, yet emerald and crimson refused to unlock for breath after breath. memories of a time long gone passing by my gaze, there is no way I would do that to Hiei but oh with the way he was looking at me I really wish I could throw away my humanity and end him right there.

"Well, she might actually be useful, congratulations girl you got your spirit energy to spike because you were fantasising about killing me weren't you. Too bad you'll never be strong enough to do that."

Those words bothered me, yet gave me some kind of twisted comfort. Kurama was insistent on taking me home after that, Hiei left in the blink of an eye, no longer a reason to stand in the streets.

But I couldn't get that image out of my head, the smirk he gave, congratulating me for fantasising about death. It was rare, and I mean rare that I fantasised about the gruesome side of my first run at life. But when I had done it I could only explain it as being a drug, not something I would advise to others, can destroy my current life that I worked so hard for, but creating a high that could never be topped.

Still at least those thoughts were pushed away the moment Ame saw me, giving Kurama a smile as she ushered me inside. "Oh Jihiro your hurt again aren't you, sweet heart you need to be careful, first your fingers now your just getting beaten up." The worry on her face caused a spring of guilt to bloom in my chest as always, waving my hands as I tried to reassure her that I was just thrown from Blizzard again and nothing else.

Kurama though was far more talented at calming someone's nerves, telling her how I gotten back up without any trouble as though lying was as simple as breathing. It seemed to work, the woman was giving him some treats she made that he taken with thanks before heading out, insisting that he was fine walking back home. I found myself looking out the winds, watching that mess of perfect red hair move down the darkening streets till it left my sight entirely.

That night I was laying in my bed yet sleep did not wish to take me just yet. Gaze glued to the ceiling as my mind wandered through the events of the last few days, my fingers still bound in bandages but they seemed to no longer hurt. I felt like now it was just a lie to Ame so that she wouldn't get suspicious of my now double life. The wounds given to me by the rose whip decorated my skin, cuts that should have been horrid things looking to be nothing more than a cat scratch now.

So many things have happened, and its all because of Shuichi, Kurama, the male who decided to take me under his wing and teach me the ways of the world that has been hauntingly close yet just out of reach.

I'm just worried that being so close to the spirit world will destroy the life I worked so hard to create here with Ame.

"congratulations girl you got your spirit energy to spike because you were fantasising about killing me weren't you."

"Hang on Jihiro!"

The voice of Jess rang through the arena, yes hang on indeed. I was pushing myself with Blizzard, with a horse you have to be careful in building a bond, but every bond must be pushed to the test, the stallion had spent enough time being lazy and now it was time to start riding.

And he was not making it easy.

He stood still in his tack for only a moment, we practice with weights, with me swinging my leg over his back before, but today he wanted nothing of the sort. Before I could have gotten my full weight in the saddle the damn beast reared, ears pinned as he began to buck as though he were in a rodeo or some untamed ill-mannered mule. The beginnings of a war sparked between us, he wanted me off, and that was not going to happen.

My muscles bruised from training scrammed no when I pulled myself up in the saddle as though my life depended on it. Remembering why the horn was called the "oh shit" handle around the barn. A full gallop was given, my hand grabbing the back of the saddle as he bucked, legs squeezing his sides I stayed put as he jerked from side to side in a gut wrenching motion that would put any roller-coaster to shame. Pain surging through me as he slammed my shoulder into a wall yet even than I refused to let go.

Kurama was on the other side of the wall, eyes glues to the scene before him as Jess watched on with slight worry. "How many times has she done this?" The woman looked over at the red head who seemed at ease with the entire situation, not a single spark of fear as what seemed to be his friend was being tossed around like a rag doll as she fought for control of the half ton animal. "Too many to count, and each time I worry she'll mess up in a way she can't recover from."

All he did was nod, leaning slightly over the wall despite Blizzard having slammed in that same spot mere moments ago. Eyes only slightly widening when the stallion bucked too far forward, causing him to have his head go under, rolling with his rider on his back as the woman grabbed hold of his mane, a smooth motion of her leaning ever so slightly away from the saddle to avoid to be crushed, a phrase from her native language being spoken.

And the sensation of energy reaching over his skin.

It felt soothing in a way. He's been around countless types of energy and knows each one has their own feel, it was even common for the same person to have different types. The sensation of peaceful authority, not willing to mindlessly attack, but to defend so long as you stand in it's good grace. It still needed to grow, she was still below even Kuwabara but finally they found a start, a smirk on his features as he watched Jihiro calm the beast known as Blizzard, once a rampaging animal now heading to her commands that were being given by a gentle tug of the rein when he stood.

Hello my friends!

I have not wrote anything in a while and yes I am sorry for that but this has been thrown on the back burner because, well everything has been happening. Took my horse to a new training facility, started working in the theatre industry and even began to write a book on my own. I literally just write this during lunch at school cause thats pretty much the only way I find time.

Anyway i am sorry this is a filler but to add fillers in so that the story would be a bit more smooth, thought meeting the gang probably was an order thing is I never liked just finding them together like I see in so many other stories, I don't know it just always felt forced so hopefully I avoided that, if not than please tell me. But the next chapter will be more interesting I promise!

Thanks for reading!

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