Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in this story besides Cian. This is rated M for graphic boy on boy action, violence, and bad language. You've been warned!
CHAPTER NINE: NEW PATHS
Cian moved towards the fox and ran a hand down his arm. "You could… but I know you better than that when you realize how much more is at stake… for both of you."
Hiei glared at the ice demon and swatted the hand away from his fox. "What do you mean?"
Kurama squirmed in Hiei's arm's trying to detangle himself from his mate. He ignored Hiei's murmured promises that everything would be fine and stood up, facing Cian. "What did you do?"
Cian moved away from the angry fox and sat down by the window, staring out at the sky with a sigh. "Kiss of Death is a very interesting plant. When the fallen petals touch the ground, they become poison and only petals caught by the owner's hands can provide the cure."
"Who?" Kurama demanded, edging farther away from Hiei.
"Three people dear to you, the ice maiden… I'm afraid I don't know her name."
Hiei's eyes darkened.
"The bride, again, I'm afraid I have no name to put to the face. I do know, however, that you agreed to plan her wedding. Such a dear friend you are."
"The last?" Kurama's face was calm, nearly serene. It gave away nothing of the inner turmoil that conflicted inside him. "My mother, is it not?" He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. How many times would his friends have to pay for the unfortunate mistake of caring about him?
Hiei moved before Cian could register what was happening but it was just a second too late. The fox was already past Cian and out the window before he could shove the ice demon out of his way. Cian gazed out the window, then at Hiei. "It seems our fox has a bit of a temper."
"No. My fox has dealt with a similar situation in the past." Hiei leaned against the wall. "In Kurama's eyes, you've just done something that can never be forgiven. If I were to tell one thing about that fox, just one, I'd tell whoever asked that he loves like no other creature I've met. He loves his human family and he loves his friends. He'd do anything to protect them."
"But he can't protect himself… or his mate."
Hiei laughed, just a chuckle under his breath. "You see this whole situation as complex and the only way it can possibly work out is in your favor. You haven't taken in to account the fox himself, the fire in his soul and the passion that drives him. Kurama isn't like the other foxes I'm sure you've met."
"Foxes have many lovers Hiei. I'm ensuring that you and I are the only ones that ever crawl in to bed next to him. I would think you'd understand how hard it is to trap a fox in to mating, how hard it is to keep them happy."
"You're doing a hell of a job of that."
"Why aren't you trying to kill me?" Cian finally asked.
Hiei smirked. "Kurama and I have a system we use to determine who gets the kill when we both have the same enemy. When you took him, it became my kill but now that you've messed with his friends and his family… All bets are off. You're his to dispose of." Hiei flitted out the window without another word, going to find his fox.
Kurama burst in to his home and began several things that had to be done. He grabbed the phone first and he stormed up the stairs to his bedroom. As he did that, he ordered his plants not to allow anyone, especially Hiei, inside.
"Hiei, what the hell are you doing calling from Kurama's house?" Yusuke's voice answered. "I told you: green button makes the noise stop and the red button makes the voices of the person you're talking to stop."
"I see you've been teaching Dragonfly how to use his cell phone. Good luck with that," Kurama teased.
Yusuke dropped the phone and then picked it up as quick as he could manage. "Fox-boy? That you?"
"It's me, but I don't have time for you to ask if I'm okay. It doesn't matter if I am or not." Kurama took a bag from his closet and began shoving a few things in there, jeans, a few shirts, mainly weapons, and the box of seeds that Yusuke had gotten him from his birthday. "I need you to get the entire group back to the temple as soon as you can. Don't worry about me."
"What's going on?"
Kurama sighed. "Keiko and Yukina are going to start running a fever, and then they'll faint. Unless I do something, they won't wake up."
"That bastard," Yusuke growled.
"And don't do anything stupid, like go after him," Kurama begged. "Yusuke, I need you to do this for me. You have to keep the group together and safe in the temple until I get back."
"Can do fox-boy. But Kurama…" Yusuke paused. "Hurry. I don't want to lose her."
"I know." Kurama hung up. Next on the 'to call' list was his mother.
"Shuichi," Shiori greeted. "Where have you been?"
"I've been busy with work and school mother," Kurama lied easily. "I need you to listen to me very closely mother. You're going to start to feel ill in a few hours. No matter what, do not take any sort of medication. Tell father that he is not to take you to the hospital. I'll be over as soon as I can to take care of you."
"Shuichi," Shiori's voice was concerned. "Is someone trying to hurt me again?"
Kurama rested his head against his pillow as he collapsed in to bed. Tears threatened to overtake him. "Yes mother," he whispered. "Someone is trying to hurt you in order to hurt me more."
"I'm sure you'll find a way," Shiori whispered back in to the phone. "Be careful, and come back to me in one piece. I love you."
"I love you too mother, and I promise that when I get back, there will be no more secrets." Kurama hung up the phone and buried his head in the pillow. And he let himself scream out his frustration and his pain. He stood up then, grabbed his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. He'd have to move quick if he wanted to outwit Hiei.
With a silent command, the plants were ordered to keep guarding his home and to fight against Hiei only for a few minutes before letting him in. He took a seed from his hair, placed the now blooming flower on the bed at his pillow. The flower was special, unique. It held his ki signature and imitated the feel of him. Hiei would think Kurama was there when he was long gone.
The fox took one last glance over his shoulder before disappearing in to the forest across the street. It took him moments to find the portal and walk through. By that time, Hiei was already on his tail. Kurama switched forms, managed to deposit the bag in a well-hidden den (not even Hiei knew of that one), and began to put his plan in to action.
The fox moved through the market with a sigh, pretending to look at priceless artifacts, the finest made weapons, and a menagerie of foods. He was well aware of the fact that he was being watched. The silver hair and golden eyes were not a trait that any other fox claimed. He was, he knew, a fox who stood out among others.
Kurama raised golden eyes to meet those of the woman he'd been looking for. A woman with vibrant orange hair that looked like flames and eyes that were bright yellow. She was a tiger demon. "Yoko," she crooned and leaned forward, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Kurama smiled warmly at her. "Now Alessa, I would never think of avoiding you during my rare visits to this region." He sighed, purposely being overly dramatic as he swept a piece of hair from his face. "It seems you've broken my heart once again."
The woman laughed. "Yoko Kurama, always the charmer. However, I know you better to assume you just dropped by for a visit." She raised a knowing eyebrow at him and took him by the arm, guiding him through the crowds and in to a rather shabby pub.
Kurama sat down across from her, all teasing sentiments gone. "You're right. I need something on the black market, and your help finding it."
"Is that it?"
"No. I will have a fire demon tracking me. He'll arrive within two hours of me and an hour behind him, an ice demon will come as well, asking about both of us. I need you to throw them off my scent, send them in opposite directions. The ploy won't work for long, but it will be enough."
"What have you done this time, you crazy fox?" Alessa mused. "Always getting in to trouble Yoko, but be careful. Trouble is what got Kuronue killed all those years ago."
"I need one more favor Alessa." Yoko sighed, ignoring the comment about his long dead mate. "Where did old mother Inaya wander off to?"
Alessa smiled. "Oh, you won't believe it! She was asked to perform a ceremony in Alaric to change over power. It was a great honor, of course, and she accepted without a second thought. She's old and wise. Her predictions for the future of Alaric during the ceremony will be listened to with cautious ears."
"The old woman is gifted," Kurama murmured. Alaric, damn… Kurama thought before raising himself up. "Thank you greatly for your help Alessa. I have something for you. I know you'll love it."
When she was handing the bracelet of gold and diamonds, she gushed and Kurama was quick to escape before he could be smothered with her gratefulness. It had been meant for Shiori, for mother's day, but this was worth the price he had paid as well.
Hiei arrived in the marketplace an hour later and followed Kurama's scent to the stand where Alessa was selling exotic clothing. When Hiei wandered over, she smiled at him. "Well, now, what can I do for you?"
"A fox with silver hair and-"
"Golden eyes?" Alessa finished. "He came by the stand just an hour ago."
"What direction did he travel in?" Hiei questioned.
Alessa frowned and furrowed her eyebrows as if she were thinking. "East I think, but I can't be sure."
Hiei nodded once and then his eyes caught something sparkly. He gazed at the diamond bracelet and then turned away. He had helped pick the damn thing out after three hours spent in a jewelry store with Kurama gushing over every stone there was. He knew immediately that the fox had bribed his source of information. He relied on the trail of Kurama's energy instead, followed it around and towards… With a sigh, he realized just where Kurama was headed. And he knew just how to arrive there before his fox.
Cian arrived a half hour after Hiei and smiled at Alessa with a charm that she could recognize immediately. Of all the ice demons who found their way to her stand, she knew this was the one she had to deceive. "Can I help you sir? I see you're looking at some silver edged garments."
"Yes, it matches the hair of my wily mate, a fox demon. I can't decide whether I want to buy something that matches his gold eyes or his silver hair."
"I saw a demon of that description looking at my fine products just a few hours ago," Alessa smiled. Oh, he was good at this game, she thought.
"Really? Do you happen to know which way he went?"
"West," she answered. She was pleased she had gotten business from it, because the ice demon bought four tunics total before heading in the direction she had pointed. She shrugged, she'd done half the job.
Kurama paused to take a breath when he saw the tower of Alaric piercing the sky. He'd been running, mile after countless mile, trying to make sure he ran at least at the pace he knew Hiei would use. He had to get there before Hiei, there was no way around it. He slowed down when he neared the gates. There would be no use in getting caught.
He noticed a hole in the guard's roaming and slipped over the wall and in to the gardens the instant he could. Inaya sat at a small table in the gardens with tea for two. She was an elder fox, her hair gray and her eyes no longer useful. However, it was not her age that made demons respect her. It was her gift, her sight in the future. Her predictions were never wrong and many demons had come to power over the years with her guiding them on their path.
"Come sit with me Yoko Kurama," Inaya smiled. "Hurry now, the tea is getting cold. I expected you ten minutes ago."
"Forgive me for my tardiness then, old mother," Kurama smiled and sat across from her. "How are you?"
"Surely you have not come all this way just to ask me if my old bones still creak," the old woman teased and poured the tea with a shaking hand. "Do not flatter me Kurama. You never have in the past and just because you are desperate for my guidance does not mean you must flatter me now."
"You never offered me your insight in the past, old mother. I did not know if your help would be given this time."
"Kurama dear, you were a very different fox back when I first met you. You were a very cruel fox then. Things have changed, and you have changed with them. I am proud of your redemption. Now, listen well, little fox…"
AUTHOR'S CORNER:
You all have me addicted to writing! I got up first thing this morning and went right to the computer to type up this chapter. Now, the problem itself hasn't been resolved yet, but I do love this chapter all the same. It brings out determination and strength from our dear Kurama that he often doesn't show. Besides, who thought that Kurama could actually outsmart his own Hiei? Anyways, thank you to all that have reviewed and please continue. I love being able to hear your comments and know that you are enjoying this story. More twists and turns are bound to come, so stay tuned. (If you're lucky, you might get another chapter today! No promises) Thank you again for reading!
