Shortly after Kurama fell asleep, a figure climbed out of his bedroom's window and made his way to Talon's house. Youko was still worried about her even though the others seemed to think she was all right.

When he arrived, her living room window was open a crack so he slipped in. He landed on the ground in a crouch and he slowly straightened up. The room seemed different, Youko breathed in deeply, the scent was different, odd… he thought to himself. The smell of the house seemed friendlier, happier then just hours before, the feelings in the house was also different, but they had changed for what seemed like the better. Youko looked around curiously his eyes catching sight of the bear. Once again, Youko wondered why Talon had thought the bear had moved when he caught sight of an object sitting on the bears lap. He walked closer to the shelf looking closely at the item. It was a round sphere with an image of a rose painted on the top, Youko noticed the sphere seemed to split in half at the middle a small gold latch held the two half's together. Taking the object from the bear Youko inspected it further then reached to flick open the latch. A blur of teddy bear stopped him from doing so.

"What the!" he exclaimed as the bear dangled from his hand, Cordiroy began kicking at Youko.

"Thief! Give that back, Give that Back!" The bear squawked. Youko lifted the bear up to eye level raising an eyebrow.

"So you did move earlier," He said grabbing the bear's ear with his free hand and holding the bear away from him. Cordiroy punched the air getting into as much of a battle stance as he could while swaying back and forth in the air.

"You think you can defeat me?" He grunted bringing up his leg and kicking the air in front of Youko. Youko turned his head away closing his eyes then he tossed the bear away. With a few flips the bear smacked into the wall opposite Youko, slowly he fell down the wall landing hard on the ground. Cordiroy sprung back onto his feet spinning around, he immediately began running towards Youko again.

"If you think you can come in here and throw me around think agai…" The door beside him slammed open. The bear froze and slowly turned to look up at an annoyed Talon who stood intimidatingly in the doorway. A rod rested across her shoulders, she twisted it around in her fingers Cordiroy seemed to shrink towards the ground.

"Cordiroy…" she growled, "Would you…SHUT UP?!" She smacked the trembling bear with the stick sending him flying across the room.

"AAAAAAAAH," He screamed as he flapped his arms zooming right towards Youko who side stepped him as he passed. Youko turned to see Cordiroy hit the wall face first then tumbled to the ground. "Ow…" he groaned. Youko slowly turned back to Talon who slightly hit the stick into her palm as she glared at Youko through the corner of her eye. Then a look of recognition flickered across her face.

"Oh, it's you," she said turning her body towards his direction Cordiroy slowly crawled back to her and reached up a trembling paw up to her.

"Talooon…" he whimpered, Talon rolled her eyes and sidestepped the bear.

"What's… with the bear?" Youko asked before realizing she probably did not know. Talon surprised him by swooping the bear up into her arms then pointed at Cordiroy's face.

"You see this mended part here?" She asked, Youko had to lean down to look but he did see a fine scar of stitching running up the side of the bears face, Youko nodded to Talon. "Cordiroy was sliced by a ghost's spirit energy I discovered the fact that it had been mended not too long ago, but I also found out that another soul had wandered into the bear's fabric and now seems to be stuck there." Youko nodded; although the theory sounded far-fetched, it made a good filler story for the strange appearance of the bear. "But," Talon said looking down at the bear, "As lonely as I get, I preferred you without a soul," Youko half smirked as the bear looked up at Talon with waterfalls of tears falling down his face.

"You're the one that saved me that time…" Talon said softly looking up at Youko, "What's your name?"

"Youko," He replied, Cordiroy gaped up at them,

"The thief saved you?" He asked, Youko glared at him I am not a thief he thought irritably while Talon nodded down to Cordiroy. Cordiroy looked up at Youko again, but this time his expression was unreadable. Suddenly he leapt out of Talon's arms; he landed on the floor and pointed up to Youko. "You're just like that shady guy Shuichii, trying to take Talon away from me!" Youko blinked, of all the coincidences.

"Cordiroy," Talon sighed, she then smiled up at Youko, "I'm not entirely sure how you found where I live, but I'm glad you're here. I wanted to say thank you for saving my life." Youko blinked again, but then smiled mischievously as an idea came to his mind.

"If you really want to say thank you," he gently lifted her chin upwards and looked deep into her eyes. "You have to seal it with a kiss," Talon's eyes widened in surprise, Cordiroy leapt onto Youko's leg biting into the fabric of his pants.

"Oh no you don't, Get away from Talon!" Youko kicked him away then continued to stare into Talon's eyes. Strangely, they suddenly turned silver, a color Youko had never seen before.

"Of course!" a voice that did not really sound like Talon's said.

"Really?" Youko questioned feeling surprised and eager.

"No," Talon moved aside and slightly pushed Youko, causing him to fall to the ground. Talon's eyes faded back to emerald green as she smiled down at the confused fox, Cordiroy began laughing rolling around on the floor.

"Tried to pull a fast one and it backfired!" Cordiroy continued to laugh, Youko's eyes narrowed at the bear and he lifted his fist bringing it down onto Cordiroy's head.

"Now your precious Talon is in my debt, for I cannot accept just verbal thanks," Cordiroy snorted then started punching at the air yelling something that did not make sense. Talon' smile widened as she caught words like "dirty, cheap, evil, fox," then her eyes caught sight of the object in Youko's hands. She felt a cold snake wrap around her stomach and neck, Youko was grinning evilly while his hand lay on Cordiroy's forehead keeping Cordiroy just out of reach from hitting Youko. Finally, Cordiroy slowed down to breath so Youko stood up chuckling.

"I win bear," he said,

"Not for long fox!" Cordiroy jumped up onto his leg and began to crawl up Youko's side; Youko noticed the dark mood that had settled on Talon. He blinked surprised and turned to her confused,

"Talon?" he questioned, Cordiroy reached his shoulder and draped over it looking up at Talon confused. Slowly she reached up, took the sphere from Youko, and turned it around in her hand. Her face had turned almost ashen as she reached up to flick the clasp off.

"Oh yeah… its in two days…" she murmured, the sphere broke in half, a soft melody played from the inside, Youko cocked his head, the tune seemed familiar, then it hit him, Talon's lullaby. "My father gave this to me… when I turned three," she said in a hushed tone as she closed her eyes listening.

It was raining… Talon's eyes snapped open her heart suddenly leapt into her throat, Thunder rolled through the sky, a little girl sat on her dad's lap as they listened to the rain's music. "You're like the rose you know," the father whispered lovingly into his daughter's ear. The sphere fell from Talon's fingers, it hit the floor loudly the music still played. Youko cocked his head when he noticed Talon was trembling. She shook her head and began backing away from the other two; she was wearing a bright smile that screamed fake.

"I'm glad I got to see you again," She came to her door and slid into it, "Well goodnight!" she slammed the door shut the fell to her knees overcome by pain,

"YOU WILL DIE! YOU WILL ALL DIE!" a sword flashed as it sliced into the man's chest,

"Daddy?" the child's screams echoed,

"Talon?" Youko poked his head into her, Talon did not respond, she hugged herself tightly while her body refused to stop shaking.

The child fell backwards away from the cutting blade hitting against a glass door behind her. She watched in terror as the blade swung at her once again, the door broke, shattering against the child, deafening her screams of fear.

Talon slammed her head against the wall with a scream of terror, fear, and mostly pain. Youko slammed the door as he jumped into the room. Cordiroy crawled to the doorway and looked in to see Youko holding Talon tightly. When Talon breathed it sounded like it was being ripped from her, she was groaning as if she had some sort of stomachache, but worse was when she rasped something only Youko could hear. Youko silently brought the girl closer to him this girl seems so fragile… like she is about to break at any given moment. After what seemed like an agonizing forever, Talon fell asleep in Youko's arms. Slowly Youko picked the girl up and placed her gently on the bed. Her face looked like a crystal orb on her darker pillows. Youko gently stroked her cheek with a concerned grimace. Cordiroy leapt onto the bed and looked up at Youko,

"What happened?" He asked Youko shook his head feeling darkness cloud his perception. Slowly he left her room then jumped out the window. One thing rang through his mind as he traveled home.

"Why…Why are you doing this mom?"

----------------------------------------------

"Shuichii!" Karin pounced on him in the halls with a wide grin,

"Ka…Karin? What's up?" he asked,

"Not much, I was wondering if you wanted to be apart of my group for the dance tomorrow," Kurama blinked,

"The what?" Karin's eyes widened,

"You mean you forgot?!" she said flabbergasted, "It's the traditional end of school year's dance!"

"Oh," He had forgotten, it seemed as if many things had jumped at him, ever since Talon moved to Japan.

"Do you even have a date yet?" Karin asked bewildered, when Kurama shook his head no she snapped her fingers.

"Oh shoot… if I knew that you were available I would have set you up with Talon, instead she's going to go with Cori."

"Oh she's been asked?"

"Well of course! He did need a bit of a push, but he wanted to ask her anyway. Does that really surprise you? My Talon is so cute that anyone would be an idiot if they didn't ask her," Kurama felt a cloud cover him would be an idiot, would be an idiot… I must be a really big idiot then he thought to himself.

"Well you're still invited to come if you have a date or not, see you in class," with that, Karin skipped away leaving Kurama wallowing in his idiocy.

When Kurama entered the classroom he noticed Talon was leaning against her hand, her eyes closed and she looked dead asleep. Youko stirred inside Kurama a feeling of worry crossing across him, slightly puzzled by Youko's reaction, Kurama sat down at his desk. Talon's eyes opened to look at him, unnerved by her blank gaze Kurama forced a smile.

"Hello Talon," he said, Talon's eyes focused more and she smiled back letting her hand fall down onto the desktop.

"Good morning Kurama," she said,

"I hear you're going with Cori to the dance tomorrow," Kurama said, Talon looked a little sick as she nodded.

"Who are you going with?"

"No one,"

"Really?" Talon mused with a teasing smile, "The heart throb of the school and you're not even going?"

"I'll still go, Karin asked me to be in her group… so I'll still go,"

"You'll just be alone," Talon was smirking, slowly the smirk died on her face and she became serious. "Kurama, will you come with me when I go say goodbye to Terence and Sara?" Kurama watched her as her eyes became slightly pleading with concern he nodded.

"Certainly," he answered, Talon smiled looking very relieved,

"We'll have to leave right after school if we want to see them, is that ok?" Once again, Kurama nodded then turned his attention to the front of the room as the teacher began class.

------------------------------------------

The two wasted no time, as soon as the bell rang Kurama and Talon went to the train station. Once they had boarded Talon stood next to a window staring out as they headed towards the airport. Kurama watched her curiously, as she stared out looking blank, she was not there, physically yes but her mind was elsewhere entirely. Youko stirred as well, but he seemed to be thinking about something else Kurama had a sneaky feeling Youko knew something that he did not. Kurama followed Talon off the bus and they headed the few blocks up to the train station. Talon paused a little ways away to look up at the sky.

"How appropriate," she muttered Kurama looked up as well to see clouds forming in the sky.

"Looks like rain…" he said, Talon nodded then continued up to the airport. Sara was standing next to her exit with an agitated expression; Terence saw them first and smiled.

"Maria!" he called, Talon smiled as Sara spun around her look of agitation gone.

"Hey you two," she said as she and Kurama approached them. Sara glomped Talon hugging her tightly,

"I'm so glad that you came!" Sara pressed a package into Talon's hands; she looked down at it in surprise. "We're both really sorry we're going to miss your birthday tomorrow." Talon looked surprised; Kurama looked at her wondering why she had not mentioned it before. Talon's mouth suddenly dropped open,

"Oh Yeah!" she said in realization, Sara, Terence and Kurama slowly fell to the ground.

"You forgot?" Terence asked Talon reached up rubbing the back of her neck with a nervous laugh.

"I guess so, my mind was somewhere else entirely," she said, Sara shook her head before she began to laugh, slowly Terence joined. Talon watched them with a small smile as they kept laughing at her blunder. Some how that smile melted into a sad grimace, the only person to notice was Kurama. The laughter subsided as the intercom told them to get on their flight. Sara hugged Talon goodbye and Terence asked if he could give her a kiss, which she declined with narrowed eyes. Sara dragged her brother onto the plane giving Talon a final wave before vanishing. Talon's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her friends go; slowly she and Kurama left the airport. Talon seemed to be wandering aimlessly until she stopped at a grassy area next to a river. She slumped onto the ground staring out at the landscape her bag had fallen upside down and a pencil and pen had fallen out, Talon did not seem to notice. Kurama silently stooped down picking them up then sat down next to her, silence fell over them.

"Kurama… Would you…" she bit her lip as if trying to figure out what to say, "do you… believe that demons exist?" she asked slowly, Kurama nodded.

"I kind of hang out with them," he said,

'Tell her about me,' Youko said eagerly, and Kurama would have, but Talon had begun to speak again.

"Oh yes… you do," She seemed to chuckle then her eyes grew darker as she bent her legs resting her forehead on her knees. "You're probably wondering why I didn't tell anyone about my birthday, I did forget it, at least I wanted to." Slowly she looked up so only her eyes weren't hidden behind her knees. "Fourteen years ago, on my third birthday, my father died, murdered really, in front of my eyes," Kurama slightly gasped taken aback. Talon looked over at him with black eyes. "Last night I found something that sent me into my memories of that night… I was in pain, and when I woke up this morning, it did not cease. I needed to tell someone… will you listen?" Kurama nodded, Youko squirmed slightly a feeling of shame pulsated from him, Kurama was curious for Youko's reaction was not what he had expected. Talon smiled slightly in relief. Then she straightened all the way out taking a deep breath.

"My father and mother loved each other a lot, but there was a strange conflict between them. My mother was a demon hater, she was apart of a group that slain demons, I never really knew about this until later. Her hate for demons conflicted greatly with one small fact about my father." Talon looked Kurama right in the eye, "My father was…is a fox demon" Kurama felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Then that makes you,"

"A half demon, but only sort of…" At Kurama's clear expression of confusion, Talon explained. "As a newly born baby, my father injected me with some sort of potion that basically put a shield between my human genes and demon, it made it so I had no control over which one I'd be, I'd either be forced as a human or a demon. As much as my father loved my mom, he did not tell her what he was or what I was. My father thought that it would be enough to keep my secret safe from my mother if she did not see me with a tail or something, but something occurred that he was not expecting at all. If my mother so much as touched me my body would burn. Her hate for demons conflicted in my body and it was because she gave birth to me that the conflict even existed in the first place. My mother held me once when I was newly born, after that she could not touch me ever again, because of that my father raised me. My mother would not really be around all that much so it was fine with her that my father was the one to take care of me." Talon's eyes darkened and her hands gathered the fabric of her skirt, "But then that day… fourteen years ago…" Her bangs covered her eyes as her teeth clenched together. "She murdered him," Her voice said harshly, Kurama's eyes narrowed in concern as Talon bowed her head letting her memory fall from her lips, in as much, and as little detail as possible.

Talon sat on her father's lap staring out the window into the rain; her eyes were wide with a smile. Her father smiled at her then looked out the window as well.

"You really love the rain don't you?" he asked her, Talon turned to him nodding vigorously, "You know, the rain are the tears of our ancestors and loved ones that have passed away. They cry to connect heaven and earth together for us." Talon reached out and touched the window.

"Do we know anyone who's crying?" Talon asked staring wonderingly up at the sky.

"Maybe,"

"When you die will you cry?"

"Yes, and I'll make sure you know it's me," Talon giggled and smiled up at her dad lovingly. He shifted her onto his other knee reaching the best he could into his pocket Talon cocked her head curiously then slipped off to stand next to the chair.

"Talon, I have your present, I was hoping mommy would get home soon but it seems she's going to be late, and you need to go to bed,"

"Aw," Talon pouted not wanting to curl up to sleep; she leapt up curling her arms around her father's waist. "But I don't want to go to sleep! I want to see mommy!" Her father's eyes narrowed sadly, "Why is she always working anyway? I wanna see her more often…" Talon looked up into her father's eyes in misery. Her father smiled,

"She loves you and wants to see you too," He smiled brightly down at her; Talon could not help but smile back. "Now," Her father handed her a sphere shape package, Talon blinked then took it in her hands. She looked back up at her smiling father, "Happy Birthday Talon," He said, Talon grinned then turned her attention to the soft cloth. She untied the ribbon and the cloth fell away easily. Talon turned the creamy white sphere in her hand inspecting it.

"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed then she looked up at her father in confusion, "What is it?" he laughed then turned it so she could see the latch.

"Open it and you will see," Talon nodded then flicked the golden latch open letting the creamy white ball fall open. The music played out to her, she stared at it concentrating, and then her face brightened with an excited smile.

"The lullaby!" Her father chuckled at her pleasure,

"I thought you would appreciate that," he said with a grin. Talon gave her dad a large hug.

"Thank you daddy! Thank you! I can't wait to show mom!" Her father gave her a kiss on the cheek,

"Now off to bed with you, I've let you stay up too long, your mother might scold me," Talon laughed,

"Your afraid of mom aren't you?" she said teasingly, "When you should be afraid of me!" she leapt up onto the arm of her father's chair raising her arms over her head. "Raar!" she growled. Her father put his arms up in fake terror.

"Oh no!" he then wrapped his arms around her waist dropping her onto his lap and began tickling her tummy.

"Aaaa!" she shrieked in delight, her laughter rang through the room before she started gasping. "Stop, stop!" she tried to say while she continued to laugh. Finally, her dad let her go; he leaned against the back of the chair with a satisfied smirk.

"Good night love," he said, Talon giggled and ran out the room,

"Night!" she cried over her shoulder. Her first action was to carefully set down the music box down on her nightstand. She then slipped into her flannel pajama pants and her white tee shirt. She brushed her teeth then slipped into bed after turning off the light. Talon stared out the window as the moon's silhouette began to rise over the horizon glowing through the rain clouds. She smiled giddily then turned onto her side opening the music box. The song floated around her until she slipped off to sleep with a small smile on her lips.

"I slept maybe an hour, maybe longer, when my dreams suddenly turned into a nightmare, the only problem was, I was awake,"

Talon's eyes snapped open, she sat up and rubbed her eyes unsure what woke her, then she heard it again, louder this time. It was the sound of a door slamming closed. She quickly realized she had wakened to a car door. A sound of happiness rang through her chest mommy had come home! Talon quickly kicked off her covers grabbing her hairbrush and brushed through her shoulder length hair making it look smooth. She turned to her nightstand spying the music box. She smiled happily again then took it and put it in a bag full of her prized possessions, A necklace given to her by her mother, her beloved teddy bear, and a small baby blanket, a design of a fox and rose on the front. She closed the strings tightly swinging the bag over her shoulder. Then she rushed down the hallway but stopped right before the doorway deciding to surprise her parents. She giggled imagining the looks on their faces when they discovered she was still awake.

"Where is she?" a cold voice asked, Talon froze not comprehending the anger in her mother's voice.

"Sleeping by now, Megan what's wrong?" her father's voice… why did it sound so concerned, that did not seem like him.

"You lied to me," that voice again… dripping with so much anger, Talon shivered as the house seemed to freeze around her.

"Megan… I was worried, I know your furious with my kind, and I didn't want that to taint you're perspective of your daughter,"

"Taint? TAINT?!" Talon froze as her mother's voice grew loud, "Kairi I am not tainted, I am disgusted! That… THING was born out of MY body! That damned child I called a daughter! A MONSTER FROM HELL!" Talon felt a stab, 'a monster?' she wondered.

"Megan," Her father spoke,

"NO! NO MORE LIES! YOU AND THAT MONSTER WILL DIE! YOU WILL ALL DIE!" Talon heard something like metal scraping against something else while her mother screamed. Talon couldn't take it anymore, she took a step foreword looking through the doorway just as lightening lit the room in its blinding light. Talon's eyes widened and her voice screamed out as she watched her mother slice the sword across her father's chest. It seemed to hit him in other places as well as he fell gasping to the ground.

"DADDY!" Talon shrieked, He turned to her his face screwed up in pain.

"Talon Leave!" he yelled, Talon turned to her mother who was watching her, blood dripping off a sword in her hand, a sword Talon had never seen before in her life.

"Watch!" her mother commanded, Talon found she could not move so she watched as her father was surrounded in a bright light. Before she knew what she was doing, Talon ran to him. She stopped short when the light died. Lightening crashed again as her eyes widened, crouched on the ground was a man with long silver hair; his silver eyes watched Talon painfully. She took in a tail and ears that were definitely not human she reached towards him.

"Daddy?" her voice squeaked, he pushed her away watching her mother with fearful eyes. The sword swung again, this time at Talon, she leapt away falling against the floor. She stared up at her mother, her body shook and her eyes widened as the sword was pointed at her.

"It was because of you, because of you I have a curse, a curse that can only cleansed with your blood,"

"Your curse is your hate for demons!" Talon's father said, Talon's mom ignored him reaching over grabbing Talon's arm jerking Talon closer to her. Pain seared in Talon's arm as a burn from her wrist to her shoulder ate through her skin. Talon screamed as the pain reached her bone.

"TALON!" Her father screamed, her mother laughed,

"This is pain you bitch; this is what you cause me!" she hissed over Talon's shrieks. Suddenly a look of agony fell over her mother's face and Talon was released, she fell against a glass door gasping as blood rolled down her arm dripping onto the ground. She stared up at her mother in terror as the look of insanity reentered her eyes.

"You will die!" She screamed, Talon gasped as the sword was raised, she watched as it began to descend, her eyes squeezed tightly waiting for the end to come. A strong pair of arms engulfed her and the sickening sound of the sword hitting flesh rang in the air. Talon's eyes snapped open to see the fox demon holding her with the sword sticking out of his back.

"Daddy…" Talon whimpered, he leapt smashing the door Talon stared at the broken glass as blood splashed against it and shuddered. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they fled, she saw her mom watching them, her sword covered in her father's blood, her hand dripping with Talon's. Talon nuzzled against her dad not wanting to see anymore.

They finally stopped moving when they were miles away from the house; Talon was dropped onto the ground as the fox moved a little farther away from her. Talon sat up watching until he fell facedown onto the mud.

"Daddy!" Talon leapt up letting her bag of possessions fall behind her. He did not answer her as she carefully rolled him onto his back. He seemed to chuckle at her,

"You aren't afraid? Of me like this?" He asked he grunted in pain. Talon wiped her eyes as tears and rain made it harder for her to see.

"Of course not, you're still my daddy no matter what!" she said firmly her throat formed a lump and she could not speak anymore.

"You're a sweet girl… you accept me even though I'm a monster?" Talon shuddered at the implication.

"You aren't though, you aren't!" Talon whimpered, the fox slowly sat up then brought his daughter close into a hug. His hair brushed against her cheek, it felt soft Talon somewhat stroked it.

"You're like this too you know, eventually you will be," he whispered in her ear, "Someday, you will be able to change into a shape like this whenever you want to, and be able to use your powers to their fullest." He released Talon to look at her. In an effort to keep the moment alive, Talon put her hands on top of her head and moved them like ears.

"I'll have kitty ears like you?" she asked, her eyes darted around watching as ghosts of all sorts came to watch the demon live his last breath. Her father laughed as her laid back down. His hand reached up to Talon's face and he gently rubbed her cheek.

"Fox, you are a fox my little one," He smiled at her then looked up at the rain taking in a deep breath that rattled in his chest. "Let the rain be your tears… don't cry for me…" his hand fell… and did not move again.

"Daddy?" Talon asked, He did not stir, realization struck her like lightening, "no… NO!" The rain fell harshly against Talon, pelting her with painful pellets. "NO DADDY!" Her small body fell against the corpse's chest screaming as her body was wracked with sobs, "Daddy! Please don't leave me! Please! DADDY PLEASE COME BACK!!"

"I don't know how long I was there; beginning him to come… he didn't, physically… or as a spirit." Talon's voice cracked, "Koenma finally came and had me dragged away before my mother could find me. He did what he could to help me… but in my state and childish dreams… I left. I ran away from the one person who could have helped me in an effort to find someone in my past, to find that it had just been a nightmare. I wondered aimlessly alone, until finally I went to live with Botan. She took care of me and put me in a school. It wasn't until then that I woke up and knew, he's really gone, she really wants me dead… when Jason died in an effort to save me I left Botan, changed my name, and moved around the country. I knew if she found me, she would kill me. When America became completely unsafe Koenma told me to move here to Japan, it was not until then did I remember the name he gave me.

"For my mother, my name is Jennifer, for my father, my name is and always will be Talon. She never knew that name so enrolled here with that name…" Talon fell silent her body seemed to curl up as she turned to Kurama waiting for a reaction. Kurama silently stared at her; uncomfortably she looked away her bangs covering her eyes. Kurama gently reached up and brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry…" he finally said, unsure how to react, "I'm sorry about everything… I wish there was something I could do for you…" Talon surprised him by smiling at him,

"By listening you've done more then you ever could have done, these things seemed to rip me apart inside, and I needed to tell someone, so… thank you," Kurama stared into her gentle green eyes, how beautiful she was to him, probably to everyone, but to him especially. Her eyes shifted into their dark Ice blue suddenly, and he realized he had leaned towards her. Embarrassed he was about to pull back when she leaned forward too, letting her forehead rest against his.

"Do you believe me?" she asked, having her close to him seemed to close up his thinking ability.

"Yeah," he managed to mutter, Talon smiled thankfully,

"Thank you…," she whispered,

"HOLD IT!" A voice suddenly screamed, Talon and Kurama jumped startled, Talon's bag unzipped and no one other then Cordiroy leapt out. Kurama stared unbelieving as the bear jumped in-between him and Talon and pointed at Kurama.

"You stay away from Talon you hear!"

"The…The bear…" Kurama stuttered, Talon grabbed the bear's ear yanking him upwards into the air. The bear dangled in front of her as her eyes narrowed annoyed.

"Cordiroy, what are you doing here?" She asked in a calm, frightening voice.

"Oh, um, I simply came to make sure no one would harm you," the bear laughed nervously rubbing his paws together.

"You little stow away," Talon grumbled just as a roll of thunder sounded around them. "Its going to rain again," she dropped Cordiroy into her bag and stood up just as the first drops began to fall. Talon looked at her watch them gasped, "We're going to be late for the train!" she exclaimed, Kurama stood as well and then silently led the way to the train station.

The two of them raced as the rain began to pour; suddenly Cordiroy fell out of the bag and landed into a puddle. Talon immediately stopped to pick the poor bear up. Then kept running after Kurama; Talon's vision suddenly swam, her foot landed awkwardly as she ran. She stumbled accidently hitting against a man's arm.

"Sorry!" she called to him after she recovered her balance and had continued her run. The man brushed his arm as if something dirty had touched him, then continued on. They finally made it with only moments to spare, Talon leaned against a pole as the train began to move foreword. Cordiroy shook himself off,

"Aw… now I'm all wet,"

"Sorry," Talon mumbled as she leaned against the cool metal; Cordiroy watched her quietly with worry.

"Talon are you alright?"

"I'm feeling a bit dizzy, but it's probably from not really eating today," Talon said, Kurama raised an eyebrow worriedly but did not respond. Cordiroy did not respond either; he could feel how tense Talon was and it concerned him.

Talon went straight home even though Kurama had invited her over. She knew she had a lot to catch up on for school, they had taken the exams that day and she had only one last chance to turn them all in. Cordiroy watched her as she worked and around midnight advised her to eat. She told him she would eventually so he settled down making a nest out of her blankets.

Around two in the morning Talon finally slammed her books closed, she rested her head on her desk breathing hard. When her forehead touched her arm, she flinched. Slowly she moved to the bathroom pulling her uniform off. She slumped onto the floor of the bathroom putting her flannel pajama pants on pulling the cord tightly it settled loosely on her hips anyway. One hand searched her drawer for a thermometer while the other put her tank top over her head. Finally finding the mechanism Talon stuck it in her mouth while she finished dressing herself for bed. She brushed out her hair until the beeper went off. Talon checked the fuzzy numbers, 102.89, she stared at it, she had not realized it had gotten so bad. She took a tablet of Tylenol in an attempt to help the fever and then she slipped over to her room.

She first noticed that the window was wide open, cool air blew into her room. It felt good against her burning skin; Suddenly she realized she was being knocked over by some unknown force. She gave a meek attempt to free herself from the arms of her captor but realized it was next to impossible. She was picked up bridal style and whoever held her settled down onto her bed.

"You liar! You're worse off then I thought!" A voice brushed through Talon's dizziness from moving too quickly.

"Huh?" she asked blankly, her eyes focused, "Oh… Youko," she said, she realized her words slurred together and it sounded very strange. Youko noticed this too; he leaned foreword and kissed her forehead. The contact both surprised and somewhat shocked Talon. After some while he broke his contact then got up and dumped Talon onto the covers.

"Get some sleep now," he commanded Talon felt like a mindless puppet as she crawled around trying to find the top of her covers. With a sigh, Youko picked her up moving the blankets out of the way and placed her gingerly onto the mattress. She pulled the covers over her head then she turned to look up at the fox. He was watching her intensely; he leaned foreword and whispered, "By the way, Happy Birthday,"

-Chapter 11 end-

Wow, um… wow, chapter 11 was the last of my shortish chapters; let's say all the rest are long, but worth it. ^_^ what do you guys think? REVIEW me please, I'm breaking the law by typing this up and putting it up you know! ^_^