Vines

Chapter 10

Her heart stopped for a long, breathless, terrifying moment.

"Wh-What did you just say?"

"Kurama, get the hell away from my girlfriend!" Yuusuke thundered, stomping toward the pair. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and Keiko gratefully leaned in to his warmth.

But Kurama's eyes didn't leave her face, gauging her reaction, as he stepped away. "Keiko?" Kurama pushed, his voice soft.

Keiko shook her head. "I don't know a Kagome, but… the boy I met on my way here did. Why?" She left the question hanging, and a long pause filled the room. Keiko glanced up at her boyfriend, who was staring hard at Kurama. There's something going on here, she thought. "Yuusuke?" she whispered.

"You're wearing her scent," he answered gruffly, turning his eyes down on her. "What boy?"

"He goes to a school nearby." She shook her head, urging strength back in to her legs. She pulled away a little. "And don't ask me, 'what boy?' in that tone of voice, Yuusuke. He was just trying to make it to school on time and nearly ran me over at a crosswalk. We ended up talking on my way here."

Kurama shoved his hands in his pockets. "Keiko, what did he say? Why did he smell like her?"

"Why do you want to know?" Keiko shot back. Her hands found their way to her hips, and she eyed them both. "I won't tell you two anything until I know what's going on. And you," she pointed at Kurama, "have some explaining to do. You slept with some girl Saturday night, didn't you?"

"I did," Kurama replied, nodding his head slightly. "But I won't apologize for it, Keiko, nor would I have acted otherwise."

"You-" She began, but Yuusuke pulled her roughly back to his side.

"Take it easy on him, Keiko. Jeez," he said. "He's going out of his freaking mind trying to find this girl; when he finds her, I'm sure he'll make it up to her for having sex on the first date. Right?" He shot a pointed look at the kitsune.

A wicked grin curved his lips. "Of course," Kurama replied. "Keiko, I know you don't agree with what happened on Saturday, but… it's imperative we find this woman."

"Why?" she asked. She was starting to feel distinctly out-matched and crossed her arms over her chest. "So you can have another go? I don't think so." Yuusuke squeezed her shoulders as a warning, and she shot him a glare. Who does he think he is? She growled in her mind, shrugging off his hands.

"No," Kurama sighed. He moved to the nearby sofa and sat down, motioning for them to do the same. "So I can explain my… our condition."

Keiko shot him a puzzled look, taking the seat closest to him with Yuusuke on her right.

Yuusuke snorted. "She saw Youko," he said.

"You're kidding!"

"I'm afraid not. But," Kurama turned his eyes to the detective's, "there's more."

"Fuck, Kurama. What else haven't you told me?" Yuusuke demanded, leaning forward. "I swear to god, if you marked her-"

Kurama held up his hand. "I haven't. Though, that's not to say I don't intend to."

There was another long pause as Yuusuke's mouth fell open and simply stared at the kitsune. Keiko glanced between them, unsure of what 'marking' meant - to her, it sounded like how a dog marked it's territory.

"She's not a possession, you know," Keiko interrupted, narrowing her eyes. That better not be what they're talking about! "And if you of all people haven't found her yet, Kurama, maybe it's because she doesn't want to be found. Haven't you thought about that?"

Kurama looked away and she watched as his golden eyes dimmed to their more familiar deep, foresty green color. Keiko bit her lip, cursing herself for being so insensitive. Of course he has; This is Kurama I'm talking about! "Kurama, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to understand," she said, reaching for his hand.

He turned his head, meeting her eyes - Keiko's gut twisted at the look there. "No need apologize," he said. "Sometimes I forget the differences between humans and demons needs some explaining."

"You 'intend' on marking her?" Yuusuke finally exploded, looking as if he could have a heart attack at any moment. "Are you fucking insane?"

"I do not believe so," Kurama answered. "Please, let me explain before you jump to conclusions."

Yuusuke looked as though he was about to protest, but Keiko laid her hand on his. He snorted, leaning back in to the couch. Watching him for a moment longer, to make sure he wasn't going to interrupt, Keiko turned back to Kurama and nodded slightly.

"Kitsunes are a little different that most youkai; we feed on energy to survive," Kurama began. "Mostly through nature, but we learn at a young age the most potent energy is sexual. Each person's energy is unique, varying by strength, purity, and emotional state. When kitsunes take energy, they feel that person's soul, feel what that person feels, think what that person thinks - for just a few moments. It's a restorative process for both participates.

"Her energy," Kurama's eyes lowered slightly, and Keiko knew his eyesight had turned inward, "was delicious - the best I've ever tasted. She has an old soul and a very strong magic. It was… holy magic."

Yuusuke moved forward in his seat again. "What!"

Kurama shook his head. "I know, it doesn't make sense. My energy should have corrupted hers if that was the case, but there's no mistaking that kind of power."

"So… what is she? Is she human?" Keiko asked slowly.

"I believe so," Kurama replied. "But she knows about demons and, I..." Kurama met Yuusuke's eyes, holding them, before he finally relented. "Her energy may not be as delicious to another as it is to me. Kitsunes rarely find an energy that overflows them and when they do… They're loathe to give them up."

"You mean…" Keiko began.

"They're like crack?" Yuusuke guessed.

Keiko punched his arm.

"No, like soul mates, you jerk!"

Kurama smirked slightly at their exchange. "Both of you are right; it's like they're an addiction because our energies compliment each other. We're not meant to be, per se; but it's close. Now do you understand, Keiko? I couldn't stand to stay away - alcohol or no."

Keiko flushed. "I understand. I'm sorry I was so harsh on you before; I forget sometimes you guys aren't completely human. You have different… needs." She said, glancing at her boyfriend out of the corner of her eye. He lifted his eyebrows at her, and she looked away, blushing slightly. Could Yuusuke tell too? If they were soul mates? "So this girl," she began, clearing her throat.

"Kagome," Kurama and Yuusuke automatically corrected.

"Kag..." She glanced between then, mouth falling open as the pieces finally fell together in her mind. That's why… She pressed a hand to her mouth, staring wide-eyed at Kurama. That's why he was so concerned about that Souta's scent and -Oh my god! Souta!

"Oh no," Keiko whispered out loud.

"What is it?" Yuusuke asked, his hand curling around hers. She tightened her grip.

"I-Just I- He's in love with her too," she blurted, unsure where to begin. "And he said he was just coming from-from her apartment. I didn't realize…"

"Are you sure?" Kurama asked. Keiko swallowed thickly, seeing the flash of hurt in her friend's eyes. She really didn't want to tell him this. But maybe, she thought, maybe it's better this way. If 'Kagome' sleeps around, maybe it's better if Kurama finds out now rather than spend who-knows-how-long looking for her. And poor Souta, didn't he mention she was dating another guy too?

"No, I'm not," Keiko replied, shaking her head. "He was only in high school. But he said he's known her for awhile, and that they're close; he asked me how he could help her, how," Keiko bit her lip again, wondering if she should reveal such intimate details about someone else's relationship, but decided it was the only way. "How he to make her happy again. There's something in her past, he said, something he can't fix that's breaking her."

"I see." Kurama folded his hands and rested his chin on them, not meeting their eyes as all three of them digested the new information.

"I'm sorry," Keiko whispered, breaking the silence. "I've never seen you this worked up about a girl before, yet here I am messing it all up."

"It's not your fault," Yuusuke said, falling back against the couch. "I'm just pissed we wasted so much time looking for her."

"Kurama?" Keiko said, tilting her head to the side and trying to catch the kitsune's gaze. He didn't turn her way, but a growl rumbled past his lips before he asked,

"Which school?"

"Excuse me?"

"The boy you met- which school did he go to?"

"I… the private academy a few blocks from here. The one with the black blazers and blue ties," she replied. Kurama nodded once, twice, and then he was moving towards the front door.

"Kurama," Yuusuke jumped up, trailing the kitsune. Keiko was just behind him, the determination flickering in Kurama's eyes feeding the apprehension already growing in Keiko's stomach. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find out the truth," Kurama answered.

"God-damn it, Kurama! Didn't you hear a word Keiko said!?"

"I would have smelled another on her, Yuusuke," Kurama answered, pulling the door open. "This boy may be our clue to finding her."

Yuusuke grabbed his jacket, prepared to follow his friend out. "Who cares? She's just a girl! -OW!" Keiko huffed, glaring at her boyfriend as he jumped up and down, holding his abused shin.

"Walk it off, jerk," she hissed. "You could learn a thing or two from Kurama about how to treat a girl!"

Yuusuke stared at her before shouting, "fucking goddamn kitsunes!"

The front door clicked shut.

Yes! Finally we have a little back-story on Kurama's... issues. But keep in mind: Kagome isn't the type to fall head over heels for just anybody (at least, not this fic!). I've installed a 24 writing marathon at my house today with the tag line - "I will be far gone in to eccentric, pajama-wearing, "go-to-hell-I'm-busy" writer mode and I'd rather not bite your head off. Please keep the door shut! Love you~" And apparently it's working. Two chapters done, "?" to go!