The moment Kurama stepped into his home a little while later, he slipped off his shoes and set his house key and wallet on the expensive solid oak table set up just a little ways from the front door and began to prowl.

Not walk or move through his home as a normal human may do. But actually honest to god prowl from place to place as he was usually want to do when he was nervous or anxious about something while studying the different rooms, their layout, the expensive human and (*cough* stolen *cough*) demon décor...

Until finally after what seemed like forever to the fox demon, he came to a decision.

For starters, he would have to get rid of some of his antiques and some of the more threatening and demonic pieces he had collected and kept both as a human and his other self.

He didn't want Mei anywhere near anything that could possibly incinerate, freeze, or likely send her to on alternate dimension adventures. No sir, no way, nuh-uh. But then nor would he blindly think to keep any of his former treasures if they could place her under enchantments and make her more susceptible to his seed.

At least not until such a time as 1) They were ready for children. And 2) He had a demon healer who could help Mei give birth without losing her life.

He couldn't imagine anything more horrible than losing his mate the same day his offspring were born. Nor could he think of anything more aweful than slowly fading away to nothing while his young needed both him and their mother to protect them and help them to survive.

Making his way to his den- yes, he had a den- he was a fox demon in human skin and some habits just weren't as breakable as others. So when he had moved out on his own, he had of course searched for a place with enough space to suit his needs and a little extra room for him to create his den. Which he had filled with an extra large hand carved ornate bed with white and soft green silk sheets, a small mountain of silk and satin pillows to match, a table in which to work, study, eat and all manner of other things- as well placed/grown a collection of exotic plants and flowering vines.

All of which's scents soothed his frayed nerves as he stepped inside and breathed deeply as he shrugged off his tux jacket and tossed it onto his bed before flopping down beside it and closing his eyes.

All these thoughts of an uncertain future and the stress that went with them were causing his headache to return. Reaching out he snagged the closest pillow to his head without looking and dragged it across the bed to where he lay. But instead of tucking it under his head as he had originally intended, he hugged it to his chest instead and used what little energy he had left to fish his cell phone out of his pants pocket and place it on the bed next to him and just lay there for a long while, staring at it.

Willing it to ring. And when it didn't, Kurama did the only thing he could truly think of to smooth things over with Mei.

He called the local florist and ordered over twelve dozen white lilies with little pink and purple bachelor buttons and silver colored accents. A large plush teddy bear holding a heart and a large plush rabbit too, just to cover all the bases, to be delivered to her home. And when asked what he would like the card being sent with everything to say, he replied.

"Roses are red, violets are blue- Please call me soon Mei or I'll have no choice but to stalk you." And in hindsight, it probably wasn't the smartest thing to say. Much less send to a woman already leery of him.

(*********************************************************************************************************)

Mei stepped out of her home and did her usual cautious looksee to make sure that Shuichi had indeed left. Not that she didn't trust him. Sort of. She just didn't know him very well. And after everything she had gone through to get rid of Jhonathan...well, she was just a little bit wary of letting a man so close to her again so soon.

Oh but last night had to have been a fluke. Or a cruel twist of fate.

Of all the things that could have happened, why had it been that? After all it wasn't everyday she was practically kidnapped by a neighborhood- uh, pal's mother and all but browbeat into accompanying said 'pal' to his mother's wedding.

And then there had been the liquor- she had never been a fan of it, had never even been able to hold it well- and this morning when she had woken up with a splitting headache, tangled up with the redhead of her dreams... She had quickly untangled herself and removed herself from the room for a good cry.

Honestly the chances of Shuichi Minimoto noticing her were practically a billion to one. And yet, there he had been, in her bed. His gorgeous long red hair loose and slipping over his broad shoulders, partially hiding his face as he slept on completely unaware of what had happened the night before when the clothing she had almost tripped on before did more than pain her a clear picture.

Not that she needed them too. The slight tenderness between her legs had helped her to fill in any blanks she may have had.

She had prepared herself before his awakening to have her heart ripped to pieces by him. He was after all uncharacteristically aloof for such a kind and well liked person, so for the life of her she couldn't understand why he had been so sweet about the whole mess.

Nor could she quite understand why he had been so affectionate with her. His actions had seemed almost possessive. And that's what had scared her into having him leave.

Men as a general rule weren't possessive of women after they had had them. No, when a man got possessive it meant one of two things. Either there was more going on than she had thought or she had just snagged herself another Jhonathan Conway.

She could probably live with one. But until things were mapped out clearly, she couldn't chance the other.

Sighing she locked up her house and patted her pants pockets to make sure that she had everything she'd need for her little expedition to the local grocery store for food and stuff.

Money, house key, emergency money, insurance card- yup all there. Stretching her arms a bit over her head, she started walking. Her expression one of absolute boredom as she passed couples, families a few kids and buildings and shops while trying to momentarily forget all about Shuichi.