CHAPTER 7

"Are you ready now to tell me what's going on in that pretty little head of yours…"

Kurama paused in mid-sentence once he reached the bathroom doorway. Watching with interest as Hiei, who didn't have the sense to wait patiently for the effects of Kurama's seed to wear off had taken it upon himself to burn the sheets (including 95 of the bed), was cleaning his self up.

"Distracted by something, Fox" Hiei glared as he rustled with his wet hair in the attempt to dry it quickly…Water pallets and left over traces of ash falling on his bare chest as he did so.

"I am not too distracted to notice you're stalling, Hiei" Kurama yawned but raised a discrete eyebrow getting a pretty good look at a semi-wet and naked from the waist up Hiei.

The fire demon hastily grabbed his black cloak that was lying on the ledge of the tub in frustration murdering a "hn" as he passed Kurama on his way out of the bathroom.

"What, was it something I said?" the Fox called out…adding with a grin "or something I didn't" following the fire youkai back into the main room.

Hiei grabbed one of the only books on the bed that didn't get burned to ash pretending to read the cover. Any distraction was better than looking at the smug face of his former friend.

With an air of superiority Kurama lightly fluffed a pillow on the chair in the corner of the room before eloquently seating himself.

"I'm all ears"

"hn…I thought you would have been smart enough to figure it out by now"

"oh, I am…I just really like hearing you speak…its such a rare occasion after all" replied Kurama wondering what might happen if he throw the pillow at Hiei -- thinking better of it -- he squeezed it once feeling the soft polyester filling before placed it on the floor. He took a short breath before continuing "with such a large breadcrumb like anarchy it wasn't hard to figure out"

After a few seconds of stillness Kurama broke the silence.

"yes, Hiei master plan" spreading his arms out dramatically for emphasize as he rose from the chair he was sitting in "Kill everyone in his way and while everyone is running around like chickens with no Rooster to lead them he sneaks around unnoticed by everyone…yes, great plan..only one small problem"

"I go down, you go down" Hiei threaten quickly lowing his voice along with his eye lids in an act of intimation knowing full well that Koenma's warning to send both demon's back to poison if either killed a human was still very much applicable.

"I'm hurt you think so low of me…tattle tailing is beneath me, Hiei" Kurama laughed "I was referring to the highly protected school you must infiltrate…so how are you going to get in if you kill this newly appointed head master as well? Two head masters die 24 hours apart…yes, you will have your anarchy but you will also have one closed Hogwarts school of Witch craft and Wizardry"

Hiei just rolled his eyes

"well, your plan -- as unorthodox as it was -- did get rid of one nuisance…that Nigen didn't look like he was about to let us peacefully walk the halls of his school"

"You have changed, Fox; you can accuse me of murdering a human without patting an eye?"

"Was that a complement?" Kurama playful asked rhetorically.

"No, and one more thing you got wrong" pushing passed the fox demon to get to the window -- Before jumping out -- adding, "I didn't kill the old Nigen…someone beat me to it"

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"Pot roast or chicken?" Kurama thought out loud. Neither one sounded all that appetizing but with the limited menu selection he would have to make a choice between the two lesser of many great culinary evils being serviced..

"May I join you…umm"

Kurama blinked before lifting his attention from the tavern menu to meet Hermione's eyes.

"Kurama, Head Master" Kurama stood up gentlemanly offering the chair opposite to him to Hermione.

"I am sorry for forgetting. I was a bit started the first time we met" she replied blushing.as she seated her self.

"Think nothing of it, Head Master"

"Please, call me Hermione…that title…" she fumbled on her words avoiding eye contact…quickly recovering she continued "well, it's much too soon for such formalities. I'm not officially Head Master until the start of the school year"

To Kurama it was quite evident that this woman was dismissing her feelings. There was an obvious association with the former murdered head master…a relationship the ex-thief was very curious to unearth. He almost kicked himself for smiling at the thought of how close she came to joining him in death.

"Then the school will remain open?"

Hermione didn't reply verbally merely nodded her agreement as a waiter passing by distracted her from the conversation at hand. She politely asked for a menu and was handed one by the maître d'; she began to glance over it. Kurama followed suit, returning to his menu and his food dilemma…almost gagging as he read the entrée titled "Blood pudding"

"Oh, you must try the blood pudding" Hermione suggested out of the blue.

"Naturally" Kurama replied but when the waiter returned to take their order he was quick to respond "I'll have the chicken, thank you" folding up the menu and returning it. He didn't pay much attention nor care what the lady opposite to him ordered…he was a bit distracted as the wheels in her head were turning…divulging a plan to get closer to the Head mistress in order to satisfy his curiosity.

"Are you business today, Ms. Granger?"

"Actually I'm free this afternoon, why do you ask?"

"My charge, it would seem is quite destructive with his new school supplies; I can only assume the Head master who know all the best places to restock" Kurama smiled, putting on the charm was so easy he felt a bit sorry for the woman when she blushed. "Please, if you would be so kind to accompany me in a day of shopping"

Hermione lowered her glass of water she had been drinking to return the smile.

"I'd love to"

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To Be Con't

Promise Chapter 8 will be longer…having a little writer's block to the direct of the plot (any suggestion much appreciated)

Hope you like..read and review!!