Kari watched some kids play while she waited for Kurama. The night before she dove into her textbooks. She read and read, but found nothing on the reason for a Makai insect manifest now. She searched through many texts including some folklore about dragons. Nothing explained their appearance.

"I now know about formal challenges." She muttered bitterly. "The insects increase when the barrier is weak, but it would need to be terribly weak to allow this many bugs."

"Good Morning."

As soon as Kari heard his voice, she pushed her thoughts aside and smiled, "Good morning, Kurama." Then she noticed the dark smudges under her eyes. "You look exhausted. What's wrong?"

"I had a mission with the others until dawn." Kurama explained. "I have to go back to them soon."

"Then let's make the most of the time we have." Kari took his hand and dragged him a clearing. "You still remember how to dance, right? It's like riding a bike, so you should."

"I don't think..." Her fingers on his lips shushed him.

"Dancing is an excellent to get to know each other." She explained. "We're close together, but also get to talk."

Kari didn't wait for him to object. She put his hand on her waist and held his other hand.

"We don't have any music." Kari mused. "We'll have to imagine it. The beat is the same with any waltz... 1,2,3. 1,2,3.1,2,3."

The words wove a spell around them. Soon, they are swaying and dancing to a tune only they would hear.

"I didn't know you could dance." Kurama murmured. "We never had time for such luxurious activities."

"Jin taught me." She replied. "Although, he usually floated above the floor." Kari grimaced at the memory. "I had to learn so I wouldn't look stupid. My skills at floating weren't as advanced as his at the time... They still aren't."

"Kari..." Kurama began slowly. "It seems like you were with Jin for a long time. Did anything... happen between you and him?"

"Oh, no." She laughed. "He was my partner in mischief. Whenever I wanted to turn it in for the night, he pulled me out to train, have a few drinks, or whatever idea struck him. However there was one time... After one too many drinks, I tried to kiss him."

A low growl rose from Kurama's throat.

"I'd been chaste for 250 years." Kari rolled her eyes. "You can't believe I never longed for a lover during that time."

"A lover?" He punctuated the word with the rise of his brow. "Not a husband?"

"That would require commitment and intimacy." She answered slowly. "I wasn't ready for that nor am I ready for that now. I never really had time to mourn your death, so the process was prolonged. Every time I thought I outran your shadow or influence, someone found out about my connection with you. I'd lose my job or worse, receive an offer of psedo-marriage to gain control of the demon world, as if my name and it's connection to yours was enough to boost their power. I was never Kari. I was the wife of the Legendary King of Thieves, Youko Kurama."

"I'm sorry I put that burden on you." He slowed the dance to a stop and brushed a strand of her hair in place.

"After living through that, I couldn't imagine building a relationship with intimacy, passion and commitment." Kari looked down. "The pain of losing someone that close would be too much." She perked up and said briskly, "Thus, I only entertained the idea of a lover."

"But never had one." He read the undertone of her words.

"Now, it's my turn." Kari changed the topic. "I get that your human name is Shuichi. Your human mother decided that when you were born in your current form. But why are you single? You are attractive, smart, and chivalrous... There are plenty of girl who... oh, how did they put it... 'Want to jump your bones.'"

"Well, uh..." He blushed at the term she used. "I suppose I never met a girl who perked my interest. There was always a book or experiment that required my attention." Kurama paused as if to consider other possibilities. "Then there was Maya. She had a crush on me in middle school. Demons attacked her in an attempt to bait me out. I decided I was too dangerous for humans to get close to when that happened."

"That explains why you are a loner at school, as well." She said softly.

Silence settled between them. Each mulled over the new information they received. Kari was right. They had changed over the years. A series of complex events and histories made them very different from whom they used to be and the personas they currently displayed.

"Your mission is to get rid of the Makai insects, isn't it?" Kari asked. "They were all over the classroom today."

"There's been an influx of energy." Kurama explained. "It's been affecting humans and not always in a good way."

She bit her lip. Dealing with humans was different than battling demons, especially since Kurama obviously cared about humans.

"I'll keep an eye on your family." She promised. "So you just focus on taking care of yourself and solving the problem."

The corners of his mouth turned up. It was just like her to offer help. Then Kurama noticed Kari's cheeks were slightly pink. Were they always like that? The orange highlights in her auburn hair were brought out by the morning sun.

"May I kiss you?" His voice was coarser than he expected.

Her eyes glanced down, but she made a small nod. His fingers tilted her face up. Gently, softly, his lips brushed against her lips. It was slight and innocent, but he wanted more. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Unsure at first, her hands traveled through his hair. His tongue slid along her lips until they parted and he deepened the kiss.

He moved one hand daringly low to the firm curve of her bottom. The other hand on her back pulled her closer to him. She felt his muscles tighten with arousal. A moan rose from the back of her throat, enticing him. The warmth of his body wrapped around her.

"Kari..." He whispered.

Then his mouth moved along her jaw line, down her neck until it stopped at her breastbone. He nibbled and sucked, coaxing another moan from Kari. The hand on her back trailed forward to her breast. Before he had a chance to feel soft mound, she pulled away.

"I...I..." She was breathless, but even if she found her breath, she didn't think she could speak.

A clock struck eleven in the distance, bringing her back to reality.

"I'm sorry." Kari finally found her words.

"I'm not," a gleam of mischief shown in his eyes. "I'll take it as a good luck charm on the mission. I can't lose with something like that is my mind."

She pursed her lips, but a blush still covering her cheeks.

"Bye." He brushed a kiss to her forehead and ran off.

"I- I think I'll make some tea." She shook her head. "Some nice tea to calm my nerves."

The kettle whistle signaled the water was ready. Kari picked the kettle up and put the tea bags in the water. Just when the tea seeped sufficiently, Hana walked into the room.

"Good morning." Kari poured herself a cup. Then she noticed Hana's disheveled appearance. "What happened? You look like you didn't sleep a wink."

"I did." Hana took a seat at the table. "That's the problem."

Kari raised her brow, indicating that Hana needed to elaborate. Stalling, Hana poured herself a cup. Even though they were close, Hana had trouble telling Kari everything.

"I had a premonition." She finally said. "Something big is going to happen. I don't know what though. It wasn't clear."

"Well, you're about to drink a diuretic." Kari replied calming. "That could cause explosive problems."

Hana's eyes widened the cup at her lips.

"I'm kidding!" Kari laughed. "It's a revitalization tea, boost your spirit, demon, and other energies. With how you look, you could use it." Considering what Hana told her, Kari stood up. "Still, I don't like this not knowing stuff. I think a quick trip to the demon world is in order. Moley-senpai will help us."

"What?"

"He's a Seer." Kari explained. "He'll help you uncover what your premonition means." She looked at the clock. "I need to check on something first. Will you be ready at, say, five o'clock?"

Hana nodded. While mumbling about a class roster and addresses, Kari gathered her things and left.

"I could do some training in the meantime, I suppose." Hana finished her tea. "Maybe if I improve, Genkai won't scold me."

Hana went back to her room to train in a more quiet setting. Hana knew training her fire ability would be a bad idea she would need to be in a more open setting for that. Hana decided to practice on her holy abilities. Hana's holy ability was more for defensive purposes but she always had to clasp her hands together to erect it. Sometimes it takes too long to put up the barrier. She decided to practice erecting it more quickly by not praying.

'I don't even know how to erect it without praying though,' Hana thought, 'Maybe I should try with praying, see how it works and then try it without.'

Hana clasped her hands together and created a small circular shield around her. Hana unclasped her hand and the shield dissipated.

"Well that's not gonna work," Hana thought to herself, "It comes to me so naturally that I really don't know how to erect it any other way."

"Maybe I should start small," Hana thought, "which means I'll need something to start with."

Hana looked out her window and noticed a tree. Hana walked over open the window and grabbed a couple of leaves off the nearest branch. Hana took one leaf and a deep breath before concentrated her energy to create a shield around the leaf.

"Got it," Hana thought before the electric energy of the shield zapped and burn the leaf, "Maybe not."

Hana grabbed another leaf but had no success with that either.

"Maybe I should use something else," Hana thought looking around her room then noticed the white cat plushy, "I could but it's too precious to me to accidentally ruin, but with that thought in my mind it might help."

Hana picked up the plushy and formed a shield around it and this time it didn't get burn.

"Yes," Hana cheered, "Now let's try a leaf again."

Hana successfully created the shield around the leaf.

'I think I got this down.' Hana thought happily. 'I still think it will be too early to try to create one without praying around me though. It seems to use more energy to make one without praying anyways.'

"You seem happy," A voice spoke from Hana's window.

Hana turned around swiftly to see Hiei sitting on her windowsill.

"Hiei, are you trying to give me a heart attack!" Hana demanded.

"Sorry I saw your window open and took it as an invitation," Hiei apologized.

"It doesn't matter." Hana replied shaking her head. "Normal people use the door."

'Hm, something seems off,' Hiei thought then spoke, "Hana is something bothering you?"

Hana looked up shocked and thought, 'Oh, no. My dream...'

"N-no I'm fine," Hana stuttered trying to cover up her worry.

Hiei walked over to Hana and put his hand on her cheek and looked straight into her eyes, "You don't need to hide anything from me, Hana. I don't like seeing you worry without confiding in me."

"Hiei-," Hana started then remembered Drake.

Hana turned away from Hiei and thought, 'Crap I forgot about him too. This is just putting me under even more stress.'

Hana glanced at the clock it wasn't even close to five, "And I still have to wait till five. Oh, what do I do?"

"Hana?" Hiei asked bringing her out of her thoughts. Hana turned to Hiei and did the first thing she could think of.

Hana rushed over to Hiei and hugged him, "I'm sorry but I can't tell you. I need to figure this out myself."

Hiei wrapped his arms around her, "I still wish you would tell me."

Even though Hana had a lot on her mind, Hiei's embrace was calming. Hiei sat down on her bed but he still held Hana in his arms. Being in his arms was really enough to make her almost forget her worries. He was warm, making Hana feel sleepy.

"Are you okay?" Hiei asked noticing her eyes were half open.

"Just tired," Hana replied sleepily, stifling a yawn then snuggled closer to Hiei, "You're also very warm."

Hiei chuckled and picked her up, "I think you need some rest."

Hana only nodded for a reply.

Hiei set Hana down on her bed and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he left.

"In the same neighborhood, he said." Kari muttered bitterly. "It's not far, he said."

She continued grumbling about Kurama's poor instructions. She walked across town looking for his address. Sure, she had a class registry and his address. She should have had no problem reaching his address. However, Kurama said he lived in her neighborhood when he walked her home.

"He lied." She jammed her key into the lock.

Instead of the journey being a short walk, like she thought, it was trek across town.

"Why would you lie about that?" She sighed. "It's not like I wouldn't find out. He has to know I have a class address roster."

Her thoughts pondered the possibilities, then, when the key clicked into place, so did her thoughts.

'He didn't want me to feel like an inconvenience.' She thought. 'Kurama wanted to walk me home, but not make me feel like burden.'

Putting it that way almost made his behavior sweet. She shook her head, but couldn't stop smiling.

"Silly boy." Kari opened the door.

"Silly?" A male voice repeated inside. "That's a new one. I've been called devilish handsome, a rogue, even a rake... But never silly."

Duh, Duh, Dun! Please write a review. Show support, give constructive criticism, just let us know what you think! Thank you!