"WHAT?!" Koenma yelled from his chair, staring wide eyed at the two demons in front of him. "You're saying that this little human girl is the owner of that Soul Stone?" He was shocked. The two of them had found this all out so fast, it was hard to comprehend. How could a small human child become the owner of a Soul Stone? Furthermore, she wasn't even from their realm…It was all so confusing.
"There is no doubt. The girl's spirit and the stone connected with ease." Kurama told Koenma, his demeanor seemed calm, but his mind rang with caution. He had the same unheard questions Koenma had. How was this even possible?
"You should bring it back here as soon as possible so I can keep it guarded; it isn't safe in the human world." Koenma suggested.
"No, we will hang on to it." Hiei spoke, his arms cross, and his voice rough. He stared down the Prince with his piercing red eyes, waiting for the Prince to argue with him.
"And why is that?" Koenma challenged, questioning the demons intentions.
"Stealing from you is like stealing from a baby." No pun intended. Hiei smirked and stepped off the wall and walked over to the desk. "The Stone will stay with us."
"I have to agree with Hiei, Lord Koenma. If this Stone is connected to Hitori, we should keep the Stone. The Stone will fuse with her whenever she meets the criteria needed unlock it. If it's locked here, we would never know when that time would come."
Koenma nodded as Kurama spoke, "I suppose your right," he jumped off his chair and walked around it, standing in front of the two. Kurama and Hiei looked down at his toddler stature. "Just, be careful. The demon who gave you that orb must have known who it belonged to. Maybe others do to." Koenma's other fear was unspoken. What if, and when, she bonded with the Stone…she became dangerous?
"Kurama's motherly instincts won't let anything happen to either of them." Hiei grunted out, glancing over at the fox.
Kurama closed his eyes, ignoring Hiei's statement. "We will take caution with what we have. If any concerns come up, we will handle it diligently."
"I wonder what kind of human she is to have such a rare item." Koenma thought aloud, walking back around to his desk. It was puzzling.
'If she is human…' Kurama thought to himself, worry flooding through his already stressed mind.
Hiei glanced at Kurama, noticing the tension that spread throughout his body. This was bothering Kurama more than it should have. What kind of connection had he formed with the small human girl to make him act this way? Hiei was tense about it as well, but he would never speak of his worries out loud. "Hn," Hiei headed out the door. Humans were troublesome, especially in child form.
Kurama bowed to Koenma, "Thank you for everything Koenma, please continue to inform me with any information you obtain." With that Kurama followed after his fiery friend, ready to go see the little girl he left in Yukina's care. Before he left the room, a thought hit him. He turned around. "Koenma, may I ask for a favor?"
"Kuwama!" Hitori ran up to Kurama as he ascended to the top of the stairs, the girl still in her pajamas. Hiei had flickered off before they had even ascended the stairs, leaving Kurama to his own thoughts. "Can I go fly?!" She asked immediately, grabbing Kurama's hand and dragging him over to where Jin and Touya sat. Chu, Rinku, and Suzuki were nowhere to be found, though their energy was easy to spot, spiking every so often. They were possibly training with Genkai at the moment, though Kurama could not be sure.
"Shesbeen askin' meh all day! Told tha lassie ta ask ya." Jin said with a grin, his fingers laced behind his head, looking up at Kurama with his bright blue eyes.
"Well, I told her to ask." Touya pipped up, "Jin didn't think to ask you before I had reminded him of Hitori's human nature." He shook his head as Jin only laughed nervously.
"Notmy fault, I getexcited!" Jin scratched the back of his head before placing his hands in his lap. "So, whatcha say?"
"Oh, pwease Kuwama! I never ask for anything again!" Hitori placed her hands together in front of her, her bottom lip quivering, and looking up at her caretaker with such a pitiful look that it could make the coldest heart melt.
Kurama sweat dropped, and sighed, was this really a conversation they were having right now? With all this worry he had on his mind, he didn't know if he was okay with this. Jin could be trusted though, and he knew that Jin wouldn't hurt 'his little girl'. Kurama had fought the urge to think of her as his, but now it came too often to fight back.
"I'll agree to it as long as you are careful," Kurama told Jin as he looked up from the pitiful little girl.
Jin's ears wiggled excitedly, and almost as fast as his ears wiggled, he was up from his spot on the porch, and plucked Hitori up from the ground gently, holding her in his arms.
"Weee!" She squealed excitedly as they started to fly up over the roof of the temple. Her eyes where wide, her body full of fear and excitement. She looked around, the trees went on forever, and birds flew off branches, disturbed from movement that crossed their path. She could see rivers, ponds, and a waterfall. She was in heaven! Looking down towards the ground, she could spot Kurama's red hair. He looked like and ant!
Kurama watched from the ground, their bodies becoming like speaks in the sky. He used the palm of his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sun and a smile spread across his lips. He was pleased to see her having fun.
"So," Touya brought Kurama's attention towards himself and crossed his arms while continuing to be seated on the porch, "care to share how you come across a human girl?" he asked.
Kurama chuckled lightly and looked back up towards the sky, "It's actually quite the opposite. She came across us only a few nights ago."
"Don't you think that someone would be looking for a child? Isn't this kidnapping?"
Kurama frowned and looked back at Touya, "I wouldn't call it kidnapping if you cannot return the child to where they belong. Hitori is not from this realm, and so sending her back home is a little difficult." Even if he could send her home, Kurama didn't know if he would actually be able to let her go so easily. With the scars on her body and the fear of it happening again, if she returned to her father, made his willingness to do so less likely.
"From a different realm you say? Well, I guess kidnapping wasn't the best term to use then. Besides, you aren't the type." Touya smirked.
"Yes, I agree."
"Oh, Kurama, you're back." The door to the living area slide open, showcasing Yukina with a tray of cups full of hot liquid. "I made tea if you would like some." Yukina walked over to the two of them and set the tray on the porch next to Touya who took one gratefully.
"Thank you, Yukina," Kurama walked over to the porch and sat down as well, taking a cup in his hand and blowing on the hot liquid to cool it down some before taking a sip of it.
"You're welcome," Yukina looked around, her eyes becoming wide, "Where is Hitori?" she asked, worry coming across her voice.
Touya simply pointed up, making Yukina look. She tried her best to cover the sun from getting into her eyes, and she smiled sweetly, "She got permission I see."
"After some begging and pup eyes, yes." Kurama chuckled, remembering the sight of the girl. She was something else.
"Yay!" They heard as the wind picking up. Jin lowered to the ground, Hitori clapping excitedly and laughing loudly.
"She' a squirmy lil lassie. Wouldn' stay still!" Jin laughed as he hovered over the ground, cross legged, Hitori sitting in his lap.
"Do again?" Hitori asked with a grin, her cheeks flushed from the adrenaline.
Jin looked up towards Kurama, hoping for an answer to her question. It wasn't his place to make that decision, as he had learned from Touya.
Kurama shook his head, "Not now I'm afraid, a later time would be better. I would like to go to town and get some educational books for her to start working on. I'm not sure if she has had formal education before, so I would like her to get ahead before attending an elementary school."
"Only you Kurama!" Kurama looked passed Jin and smiled lightly as he saw the black haired detective walking up to him. Kuwabara and Keiko were in tow.
"Just because you don't take school seriously, doesn't mean everyone does." Keiko glared up at her boyfriend, annoyed by his lack of interest in school.
Kuwabara laughed, before spotting Yukina on the porch with a cup of tea in hand. Darting passed his friends and the wind-master he made his way over to Yukina, "Hey, baby, I missed you!" his face flushed.
"I missed you too, Kazuma. I'm glad to see you are doing well." Yukina gave Kuwabara a sweet smile, making Kuwabara flustered.
Hitori pulled herself up so she was standing on top of Jin's leg. She looked over his shoulder and grinned at Yusuke and Keiko, "Hiya!" She called, waving as the came forward.
Jin wrapped his arms around the girl and placed his feet on the ground, giving Yusuke a toothy grin. "Oy! Finally I get ta see ya. Was hoping it wouldbesooner then later I did!" Jin's ears twitched in excitement at the sight of Yusuke. "Readyfor a rematch?" His thick Irish accent making his words run together, his excitement overloaded. Today was already a good day.
"You're gonna be here a while, right?" Yusuke asked, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his jeans. He earned a nod and he grinned, "We will definite have our rematch! Once you get stronger that is."
"Cockynow with that power inside ya!" Jin frowned, but it quickly changed as he laughed loudly. "Deal! Can'thavea match without meh bein' at full strength!"
Hitori looked in between the two, and again was bored. She squirmed, wanting down, "Down." She groaned. He placed the little girl on the ground and watched as she ran to Yusuke. She gave him a quick hug on the leg, and then ran passed Jin towards Kurama. She jumped onto the porch and sat down beside him, reaching over and taking her own cup of tea. It had cooled down by now, letting Hitori chug it down.
"Where's everyone?" Yusuke asked, not fazed by the little girls show of affection.
"Rinku, Chu, and Suzuki are training with Master Genkai at the moment." Touya said simply.
"Hiei is off training." Kurama added.
"Um, Kurama?" Keiko watched as Hitori looked in between everyone as they talked. She wondered if she was a little recorder, taking in everything and able to repeat it later.
"Yes, Keiko?" Kurama asked looking up at the girl's curious and worried look.
"Well, I…I was wondering if it was okay to talk about this stuff in front of Hitori." Yes she had seen Jin hovering over the ground with her, but was it okay to introduce her to all the violence?
Kurama looked at Hitori and she looked at Kurama with curious eyes when her name was mentioned. "Yes, I believe its fine." Kurama placed a protective hand on top of the girls head. "For now, this is her home, and we cannot keep it from her for long. I mean, our company is mostly demon."
Keiko nodded, "I guess that's true." She bit her lip.
"If she has any questions she can ask. I will not be afraid to answer." Kurama explained.
Yusuke laughed loudly, placing his hands on his sides, "Kurama, have you ever given the birds and the bees talk before?"
"That's not what I meant, Yusuke." Kurama sweat dropped and held his head down, a puff of air escaping his mouth. These people were too much sometimes. With that he stood up and placed his tea cup on the tray. "Thank you for the tea, Yukina. It was good as always."
Yukina nodded and smiled, "Thank you very much. Are you two leaving now?" She asked curiously.
"Soon, first we will have to get her out of her pajamas. It's not exactly lady-like." Kurama looked down at Hitori who had placed her tea cup down as well, and was standing up on the porch. She was looking down at herself, and spinning in the processes. Hitori was positive she looked like a lady!
"I'm a lady!" Hitori was energetic and ready to argue with the red head.
"Of course you are, but pajamas are for bed and not for play." He stepped up on the porch and held his hand out for her, which she grabbed, and led her inside.
"Is it me, or is Kurama really good at parenting?" Yusuke blurted out when the door had closed.
"It's like he's done it before." Kuwabara agreed.
"I think it's cute!" Keiko told them, holding her hands together against her chest in a daydream kind of look.
"Don't even think about it getting baby fever. I ain't helpin' ya." Yusuke stuffed his hands back into his pocket and started walking away from her, heading towards the dojo.
Keiko's face turned flush when he said that, "Yusuke, you jerk! I was not even thinking like that!"
Yukina watched as the two stormed off towards the dojo, and giggled lightly. Even though they fought most of the time, they were great together.
"Wannafollow them an' checkoutthe othersprogress?" Jin asked Touya as he watched Yusuke and Keiko head towards the dojo.
"Sure, why not." Touya stood, placed his cup on the tray, and thanked Yukina before following Jin.
Yukina picked up the tray and smiled up at Kuwabara who was gushing. "I'm going to go put this stuff up Kazuma, but I will come see you after." She told him as she stood, smiling sweetly at him.
"R-right! I'll see you after!" Kuwabara waved vigorously as he watched Yukina walk back into the temple. His face was flushed, and his heart was pounding against his chest roughly. He had it bad. Removing himself from his trance, he ran over the small group, towards the dojo to watch the training.
"I don't even know how to read." Hitori told Kurama as they walked up and down the aisle of a small bookstore. He had come here often to purchase his own books, so he figured it would be the best place to get her starter kit.
"That's what these books are for. They will help you learn to read." Kurama told her.
"But…how can I learn to read, when I can't read what it says?" She ventured to argue, being a smart mouth in the process.
Kurama turned to the girl; she was wearing a white tank top and black shorts, her hair pulled up in two pigtails. She looked feisty as she stared up at him with her blue eyes. Kurama shook his head, "I will be helping you learn to read, so when you are ready, you can start reading the books on your own." She was fast with her responses, and it made him know that she was a faster learner. She had already started picking up the attitudes of his friends, so she would be able to pick this up as well.
Hitori crossed her arms and pouted, "Do I have too?" She asked.
"Yes, you have too. If you don't then when you get into your first years of school, you will be behind everyone else. Its better if you are ahead." Kurama watched as she contemplated his words in her head. "You want to be smart right? Ladies are very smart." Her eyes perked up at the word 'ladies' and she grinned.
"That's me, smart lady!" She pointed to herself and started pretending to read the book covers on the shelves.
Kurama chuckled and picked up another started book, thinking everything over in his head. He had already formulated plans in his head for her future. He felt selfish as he formulated these plans, but he also felt satisfied and content. He was happy. With Hitori with him in the book store, picking up learning material, he felt like something was finally going right in his life. This little girl brought out something familiar in him, a feeling he had remembered he had only felt once before.
Back before Yoko's soul implanted himself inside the unborn child of Shiori, he had met a woman.
Her name… was Kameko.
Sorry to end it here! I hope you enjoyed!
Thank you everyone for all the follows, favorites and especially the REVIEWS! It means so much to me! :D I smile because I love to know how I'm doing and what you all liked most about a chapter!
Anyways, keeping being awesome, and let me know whatcha think..
Don't miss the next chapter, where we look into Kurama's passed. Who is this Kameko person?
Happy reading! :3