Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. The original characters are mine.


CHAPTER SEVEN

Kurama lay awake, staring blindly at the ceiling. He turned to look at the clock on his bedside for the umpteenth time. 2:45 AM. One more minute than the last time I checked.

He groaned as he sat up. It's no use. I'm never going to fall asleep.

Kurama pushed the covers off him and stood. He walked over to his window and glanced up at the full moon. Memories of his almost kiss with Hiroe came unbidden into his thoughts. He ran his fingers through his hair restlessly and closed his eyes. He placed his forehead on the cold glass of his window.

What the heck happened tonight? I almost lost control. I was going to kiss her, for goodness' sake! I should have more discipline than that!

He opened his eyes and was startled to see Hiei staring back at him. He straightened and quickly opened the window.

"Hiei, what are you doing here? You're supposed to stay with Hiroe and Hinoto," asked Kurama.

"Yusuke and the others decided to sleep over during the weekend so don't worry, I didn't leave the sisters alone. I should be asking you what you're doing. You should be asleep," retorted Hiei.

Kurama sighed. "I couldn't sleep. Anyway, did you have something to tell me?"

"Hiroe and Hinoto fell asleep just a few minutes ago. Yusuke wanted to talk to you in private so he asked me to come get you."

A laugh escaped Kurama as he said, "You're running errands for Yusuke? That's a surprise."

Hiei growled out, "It's not like that, fool. I'd been feeling claustrophobic inside the house and needed some fresh air so I decided to do this."

"OK, OK," replied Kurama with a smile. "Let's go."

With that, Kurama and Hiei leapt out the window and vanished into the night.


As Kurama and Hiei neared the house, they found Kuwabara and Yusuke sitting on the front steps waiting for them. When Yusuke caught sight of them, he stood up.

"So," said Kurama upon reaching Yusuke, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Why did you lie to them, Kurama?" asked Yusuke without hesitation.

"You mean why I didn't tell Hiroe the truth about my being a fox demon," corrected Kurama.

"Same shit," shrugged Yusuke. "She knows about everyone else. Why'd you hide the truth about yourself?"

"It's a completely selfish reason," replied Kurama quietly.

"I'd still like to hear it," prodded Yusuke.

Kurama let out a sigh and sat down. Yusuke and the others did the same.

"Have you ever gotten the feeling when you meet someone for the first time that somehow you've met before? The first time I saw Hiroe I instantly had a feeling that I knew her from somewhere."

"You think you met her when you were still in fox form?" asked Kuwabara.

"Yes. Ever since I saw her at the grocery store I'd been trying to recall where I've seen her before."

"But that's impossible!" uttered Kuwabara. "That would mean she's more than fifteen years old, right? Possibly even a hundred years old!"

"Well," said Yusuke pensively, "the sisters' Reikai files are classified. That might have something to do with it."

"Then that would mean both of them are liars," said Hiei flatly.

"No. It could mean that they know nothing about any of this. It could mean that the Reikai keeps tabs on them because of their powers. It could even mean nothing at all and I'm just imagining things," countered Kurama.

"Then what are you planning, Kurama? How long are you going to hide the truth from them? They're bound to find out sooner or later," said Yusuke.

"Until I find out exactly why I'm feeling this way. Maybe forever, if I can help it. Another reason why I didn't tell her is because I want to protect her. It's too dangerous for her to know about my demon half. I have a lot of enemies as Youko and if they find out about her, I shudder to think what they might do."

"Ah," grinned Yusuke, "I get it now. You like her. As in like like."

Kuwabara snickered. Hiei simply crossed his arms over his chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Kurama coolly, but there was a hint of a blush on his cheeks.

"Sure you don't," said Yusuke. "Anyway, we'll keep your little secret. But I suggest you resolve your dilemma soon. If she finds out from someone else, she might lose her trust in you. Then you can't go all lovey dovey with her anymore."

Kuwabara and Yusuke burst out laughing at the thought. Kurama shook his head at their behavior, but the effect was lost because of the telltale pink tint still on his cheeks.

That was when Hiei stood up. "This is becoming pointless. I'm going upstairs to check on the sisters," he grumbled.

"I'll go with you," said Kurama, eager to get away from Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"Hey, Kurama! Why don't you sleep over as well? We're all here for the weekend anyway," suggested Yusuke.

"Yeah, I'll probably stay since I'm here anyway. We should do this every weekend until this mission's over," commented Kurama.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Anyway we'd all better head inside. I'm sleepy," said Yusuke.

All four of them went inside and headed upstairs.

"Kuwabara and I are staying in the guest room. Hiei's taking the couch, Keiko's with Hinoto and Hiroe's all by herself. We'll save you a pillow and a blanket, unless you're planning on sleeping with Hiroe," Yusuke told Kurama while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Kurama gave Yusuke a dirty look, who laughed heartily, then made his way to the two other doors in the upstairs hallway. He heard a door behind him close and assumed Yusuke and Kuwabara had gone in the guest room.

"Her door's on the right," said Hiei. "I already checked Hinoto's room so I'm going downstairs."

"Thanks. Good night."

Hiei grunted then went downstairs. Kurama paused in front of Hiroe's door. Should I or shouldn't I? he wondered. After what happened earlier, I don't know if I can trust myself to be alone with her.

Suddenly, he smiled. What am I doing? I'm thinking too much again! I'm just going to check on her. That should be easy enough.

With that thought in mind, he entered the room. His gaze fell on the bed then immediately froze in shock. He just stood there with the door wide open, blinking several times at the sight of Hiroe's figure, face pale. Slowly, he closed the door.

It should be easy enough. But definitely not when she's only in her underwear!


Hiroe was blissfully unaware of the show she had inadvertently given poor Kurama. Of course, she didn't intentionally sleep wearing only her undergarments. She had just felt so exhausted, probably because of all the guests she had to entertain.

Whatever the reason was, she had undressed the minute she entered her room and flopped on the bed without bothering to put on her customary pajamas. She'd fallen asleep almost instantly.

Her slumber, however, wasn't dreamless.


A lovely girl stood on a balcony, her hands resting on the ledge. Her hair was extremely long, the tips of which were slightly grazing the ground. She wore what seemed to be a white kimono with a blue obi and floral embroidery but it looked more like a ball gown because of its billowing skirt and extended train. A crown rested around her head, its simplicity compared to an enlarged engagement ring.

She sighed softly in pleasure, surveying the exquisite, if unusual, scene before her. To her left, the vastness of Makai stretched out endlessly. To her right, a lush Ningenkai forest flourished.

Behind her, she heard the amused voice of her sister. "Fumiko-chan, why do you always stare at the Makai and the Ningenkai at the same time? Just pick one and focus your attention there. Better yet, ignore the Makai altogether and watch over the Ningenkai like you're supposed to."

Fumiko smiled but held her gaze on the view. "Misaki, in case you've forgotten, it's also part of my job to make sure that no demons from the Makai wander into the Ningenkai. Besides, don't you think the contrast between the two is amazing?"

"Yeah," retorted Misaki, "amazingly boring."

"I don't understand why you don't appreciate it. Anyway, why are you here? Shouldn't you be organizing a ball or having a new wardrobe made or something like that?"

Misaki rolled her eyes. "Oh, thank you for making me out to be so flighty."

Fumiko laughed and finally turned to look at her sister. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously, though, is anything wrong?"

Misaki tucked a few strands of hair that had escaped the bun atop her head behind her ear. Her red kimono wasn't as lavish as her sister's but it was still pleasing to the eye. "I just passed Goro in the hallway. He wanted me to tell you that a thief was able to get into the castle grounds from the Makai. They managed to wound him but he escaped into the woods."

"Is the thief still inside the castle walls?"

"Goro believes so. All the exits have been blocked and the men have taken positions around the wall should the thief try to go over them again. It seems that's how he got in."

"So he's alone? Have they started a search?"

"I think they're still waiting for word from you."

Fumiko sighed. "You say they wounded the thief? How many times have I told them to take it easy on intruders? Tell Goro to keep the security up but to leave the search to me. That thief will need healing."

Misaki nodded then left to do her sister's bidding. Fumiko turned back to look at the scenery, unwilling to leave just yet. Her yearning gaze centered on the Makai. She remembered her late father's words.

"Fumiko, you must never set foot on the Makai. A lot of demons resent the fact that our kingdom stands between them and the Ningenkai because we make it difficult for them to get their next human meal. The second they find out that you're outside the castle grounds, you'll be killed."

She had heeded his warning but how she longed to go there, just once. She sighed again then left to go outside the castle and deal with the thief. When she reached the door, she saw that Goro, the captain of her guards, was waiting for her.

Bowing deeply, Goro greeted her. "Princess Fumiko, I apologize for not being able to restrain myself. The thief is surely injured for two of my arrows hit him squarely."

"It's all right, Goro. Please do try to hold back next time."

"Yes, Princess. But Princess, are you certain you want to do this by yourself? He could be dangerous."

"I'm sure I'll be fine, Goro. Now then, let me search for our thief."

Fumiko stepped out of the castle and headed into the woods. She knew it by heart, having spent most of her time in them. Minutes later, a bluebird perched itself on her shoulder. She said, "Hello, Aoki-chan. I take it you know where to find him?"

The bird chirped. Fumiko nodded, understanding what the bird said, "Let's head to the brook then. Are his injuries severe?"

The bird tweeted again and Fumiko quickened her pace. "He's bleeding badly? We better hurry."

Upon reaching the brook, Fumiko stopped and leaned against a tree trunk. She stared in wonder at the magnificent demon that stood near the water's edge. She was sure it was a demon even if Misaki hadn't told her he came from the Makai.

He had long silver-white hair which glistened under the sun, a tall, well-built physique covered in white strips of cloth draped around him, and two fuzzy ears on top of his head. He was pulling out the arrow lodged clean through his left shoulder. Fumiko quickly spotted the other arrow pierced in his right thigh. Both wounds bled profusely, and he was aggravating it with his actions.

Before she could even blink, the demon disappeared. As she rushed out of her hiding spot, an arm encircled her throat from behind and she was pulled towards the demon.

"One move and you die," he said calmly.

"Please," begged Fumiko, "let me see to your wounds. I have no wish to harm you."

The demon almost laughed at her words. Harm him? The top of her head barely reached his shoulders. As he pondered this, he saw the band of white gold around her head. The crown, he thought.

"You're the Ningenkai princess," he declared.

Fumiko's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, I am. And I promise to let you go but you have to let me look at your wounds."

"Why?" he asked harshly.

"To heal them, of course. I'm sorry you were wounded, but I can't really blame my men because they were only trying to protect the castle."

The demon considered her words, then slowly released her. If she wants to heal me then fine. After I'm all fixed up, I'll just kill her and grab the crown. How stupid is she to bring exactly what I came for to me?

"You know, you can't pull the crown off my head. I'm the only one who can take it off. And if you kill me, the crown will disappear and rest on my sister's head," Fumiko said gently.

The demon's sharp gaze snapped towards Fumiko's back. She turned around to finally face him. He was staggered by her beauty and the kindness in her grey eyes.

Fumiko, on the other hand, couldn't stop staring at his stunning gold eyes. Her heart beat furiously. He's beautiful.

"A mind reader. Hn. That's the last you'll hear of my thoughts, girl," he bit out angrily.

Fumiko only smiled. She stepped closer to him then placed her hand on his shoulder wound. He winced. She explained, "You can't pull these out because these arrows were formed using spirit energy. Only the one who made them can remove them."

"And you," he added.

"Yes," she agreed. She swiftly yanked out the arrow but the demon was surprised that there wasn't any pain in the act. The white stone in the middle of Fumiko's crown began to glow and the demon found that his wound was gone. She then kneeled gracefully and tended to the other wound.

"All done," she announced, looking up at him.

The demon looked down at her, not sure what to make of her. Her next words shocked him.

"I promised to let you go so I'll open up a portal that leads directly to the Makai."

"I never expected you to make good on that promise," he confessed.

Fumiko laughed and the sound made the demon's heart flutter just a tiny bit. "It comes with a price, though."

The demon snorted. "Should've known. What is it then?"

"Your name. And a promise to meet again."

The demon let out a laugh of his own, although cold and humorless. "And if I refuse?"

Fumiko shrugged daintily. The demon knew he had no choice anyway so he said, "Fine."

With a wave of her hand, a black hole opened behind him. The demon turned to walk towards it. Just before he stepped through, he said, "The name is Kurama. Youko Kurama. We'll meet again, Princess, because I refuse to leave empty-handed."

And then he was gone. Fumiko smiled sadly.


Hiroe whispered in her sleep, "That is untrue, Youko Kurama. You do not leave this place empty-handed. You've stolen my heart."


A/N: I think this chapter provided answers to some of the questions opened up from the previous chapter. But then, more new questions have come up in this one. Yes, I do enjoy messing with my readers. Just kidding! This is just the way the story's supposed to flow. Plus I love writing cliffies. I'm EVIL, my beta reader says.

Thanks to my reviewers duckichan87 and SlightlyBroken14. You guys are the best! I adore reviews and you have no idea how much they help me as a writer. That said, please review this one and tell me what you think!