Rolled out of bed today

And I feel brand new

And I cannot explain

So let me show you

I feel alive

And I'm gonna let me let it show

Try to kick me down

I'm a full hot air balloon

I'm gonna take this in my stride

Miko smiled at Kurama as he sang the lyrics into his microphone on the other side of the studio. His red hair was mussed slightly from moving around as they rehearsed for their upcoming performance. He winked when she joined in on the chorus and stepped closer to her. Miko slid to the left and stepped forward then back, letting herself get into the music.

I'm feeling tip-top, I'm not gonna stop

Tapping my shoes

I ain't got a clue, got nothin' to lose

Watch me move

It's a brand new day

I'mma hit you like a hurricane

For a moment, Miko was back in the recording booth for the first time with Kurama, laughing and joking. She recalled the days when it was just the two of them against the world, before the rabid fans and paparazzi. After running away, music had been one of the few comforts Miko could enjoy. She often found herself lost in the sound, the melody allowing her to find the words she couldn't have before. That was before their world was defined by charts and sales, before the music had to be designed and perfected.

Kurama grabbed her hand just as the chorus started up a second time, pulling her across to the other side of the studio while he took her place. Tomoe's face flitted through her mind as Miko sang, lifting her spirits once more. By the time they got to the bridge, she was back in full swing, her movements less restrained and stiff.

And so, I heard the grass gets greener

I'm sure it's gonna all get clearer

I know I'm gonna turn this around

'Cause I'm not gonna let you try to keep me down

Kurama smiled as Miko belted out the lyrics. He had forgotten how lost in the music she could get, and it was refreshing to see her so carefree and happy. When they jumped back into the chorus, he grinned mischievously and began moving closer to the oblivious girl.

I'm feeling tip-top, I'm not gonna stop

Tapping my shoes

I ain't got a clue, got nothin' to lose

Just as the next line hit, Kurama grabbed Miko's hand and pulled, causing her to spin into him. They landed as perfectly as always, her free hand on his chest and his around her waist, still holding her other hand. He leaned down, still grinning as he sang his line to her.

With you

Miko rolled her eyes and pushed away from him as the chorus started up again without missing a beat. They finished the song and high-fived the other cast members as they packed their things and headed to their dressing rooms. Once they had changed and were ready to go, Miko grinned at Kurama. "You surprised me back there. I almost lost character."

"You seemed pretty into it on your own," he replied with a grin. "What's got you in such a good mood?" Miko shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "It wouldn't have anything to do with seeing that fox again, would it? You've been spending a lot of time with him lately."

Miko's eyes widened and she blushed heavily. "I have not! We just hang out after school, that's all."

Kurama rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure. You just hang out after school. And walk to school together. And eat lunch together. And-" He grinned when Miko covered his mouth, glaring at him. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry," the Tengu apologized halfheartedly as they walked out of the building. "I'm actually glad you two are getting along now. I may hate his guts, but I know you consider him family so I'm glad you're happy." He smiled down at the wolf yokai and opened his umbrella as they stepped outside.

Before she could respond, a familiar voice called out behind them. "Hey!" Miko turned to see their manager, Tazaki, walking behind them with a big grin. He was probably the president of several fan clubs, and he was always looking for a way to find out more about Kurama and Miko's lives. He wasn't really a bad guy, but he struggled with boundaries sometimes. "Great job today, Ko-Rama!" He grinned, obviously pleased with himself as the two celebrities looked back at him in confusion. "Get it? I put Ko and Kurama together to make Ko-Rama!"

Miko giggled and shook her head as Kurama rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we got it." He groaned. "Just don't do that in public."

"R-Right!" Tazaki nodded. "Anyway since it's raining, I'll drive you home!"

He held up the keys, but the pair was already walking away, huddled under the umbrella. "It's alright," Miko called back to him with a smile. "We live nearby." Tazaki spluttered and immediately began ranting about how it was a manager's job to drive his stars home and something or other, but Kurama had already lost interest and was hailing a cab. Miko was looking around when she noticed a familiar face on the street corner. "Nanami?"

She was sitting at the entrance to what seemed to be a clinic and she was cradling a small bundle. Something was different about her though. Kurama seemed to realize the same thing because he walked over, smiling at Nanami. "What are you doing here?" Nanami looked up at the sound of his voice, seeming startled by his sudden appearance. "Oh." He frowned and bent down to get a better look at Nanami's forehead. "You've lost the mark."

Miko's eyes widened. There was no way Nanami could have lost the mark of the land god. It was impossible. If Nanami had lost her mark, then that could only mean one of two things: Mikage had returned to the shrine, or… Miko shook her head, unwilling to consider an alternative. Just as the thought crossed her mind, however, Nanami leaped into Kurama's arms, sobbing. As she did so, the bundle shifted to her arm and Miko immediately recognized the little boy in her arms.

"Tomoe?"

"He's gotten pretty cute, huh?" Miko and Nanami looked up at Kurama from their places on either side of Tomoe, who was lying in Miko's bed. Nanami was kneeling on the floor beside him drying her hair while Miko sat on the bed. Kurama stood in the doorway, holding a mug of tea.

Nanami stood and nodded to both of them, bowing her head apologetically. "I'm sorry for suddenly imposing on the two of you like this while you're not feeling very well yourselves."

Miko raised an eyebrow at Kurama. "Not feeling well?" Nanami looked between the two in confusion.

"Oh, that's just an excuse for us to take days off from school for work," Kurama responded with a shrug. He put his hand on his head dramatically and the wolf yokai rolled her eyes. "That school doesn't cut corners for popular idols, so it's a pain to take care of all the formalities. After all, this is the first time there has been a super popular star enrolling in that school. It's troublesome for me that they're not very flexible." He smiled and posed dramatically.

"Poor thing," Miko scoffed. "You have to actually go to school. Whatever will you do?"

Nanami ignored him, clearly more concerned with the matter at hand. "Miko, since you and Kurama are yokai, I have a favor to ask." The older girl looked at Nanami, prompting her to continue while Kurama mumbled something about being advertised as a fallen angel. "Do either of you know a doctor who will cure yokai? I want to ask a doctor to have a look at Tomoe. He seems to be in a lot of pain…"

The yokai shared a look before Kurama sat on the bed to get a closer look at the sleeping fox. "Looks like he didn't turn into a kid," the Tengu commented. "Only his body has completely regressed."

"What does that mean?" Nanami questioned, her concern obviously growing.

Miko frowned, placing her hand on Tomoe's forehead. It was practically hot enough to burn her. "It means that the power he originally had can't settle down in this body and is going crazy. That's why he's running a fever." Nanami moved closer as well and Miko looked at her grimly. "Even with a doctor, there's nothing we can do if he doesn't return to his original body." The wolf yokai glanced back down at Tomoe, gently brushing some hair out of his face. Tomoe… We'll get you back to normal, I promise…

After a few moments of watching the two girls, Kurama sighed and walked out. He returned a little later holding a small pill. Miko immediately recognized it and frowned, remembering all the times she'd been sick and Kurama had forced her to take it. "This is a very good medicine that has been passed down through generations in my family. It's just a temporary remedy, but it'll at least bring his fever down. It's really bitter though." The Tengu smiled as if he wasn't sorry at all. Miko imagined it had something to do with the ostrich incident a few weeks ago.

Just as Kurama opened Tomoe's mouth and slipped the pill in, however, Tomoe clamped down in his sleep, biting on the Tengu's finger. Kurama yelped and began groaning about an ungrateful fox, but both women ignored him. Almost immediately, Tomoe's fever seemed to go down and his breathing relaxed. Miko smiled and shifted into a chinchilla, curling up beside Tomoe. Please wake up soon, Tomoe… Please be okay… Miko's eyes drifted shut as she fell asleep, dreaming of white foxes and autumn.

The next morning, Miko woke to warmth on her back. She sat up, still in her animal form, and turned to see sunlight filtering through Kurama's window. When the yokai looked over, Tomoe and Nanami were still asleep but Nanami now had a blanket draped over her shoulders. Miko suspected that had something to do with a certain crow Tengu. She slipped off the bed and out of the room, only changing back once she was sure the others wouldn't wake up.

Reaching up her arms in a stretching motion, Miko made her way to the music room and picked up her guitar. She'd had the beginnings of a song stuck in her head for the past few days, but she'd had very little time to work on it. Now that everyone was asleep, however, she suspected she could at least finish the melody in peace. And it might help me clear my head so I can consider what to do about Tomoe. Miko sighed and pulled her long black hair into a loose ponytail. Reaching down to grab her guitar, she sat on one of the stools and began humming softly, strumming the guitar.

The rain is fallin' on my window pane

But we are hidin' in a safer place

Under cover stayin' dry and warm

You give me feelings that I adore

She frowned softly as she sang, writing down the lyrics. The music was complete, but the words still eluded her. Every time she started writing, she would get little spurts of inspiration, but they would disappear. It was like the words were just out of reach. Miko sighed and ran a hand through her hair, releasing the ponytail as she did so. She rubbed the sleep out of her golden eyes and set the guitar down. What am I missing? The thought continued repeating itself in her mind as she put her hair into a tighter ponytail, but the answer eluded her.

"A muse." Miko nearly dropped the guitar as she turned to look at the familiar man behind her. "You're trying to finish that song, right? It sounds good, but you don't seem to know who you're singing to or about." He sat on one of the stools, looking over at her. "In my experience, that's kind of necessary when you're writing a song."

Miko out a hand over her heart and glared at him. "Jeez, Shinjiro, you scared the living crap out of me." She sighed and sat down on one of the other stools to face him. "That's the thing. I'm not writing this for anyone in particular. It just… came to me."

The crow Tengu smirked and waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense," he said. "I heard you singing. Music like that doesn't just happen. It means something. In all the time I've known you, your music has always had a muse. Even if it's not a person, it's something that makes you feel. Just think about what makes you feel the way you do when you play this song." He stood and hugged her, placing his chin on the top of her head.

"When did you get so wise?" She looked up at him, her hands reaching up to grab his.

Kurama shrugged, grinning down at his partner. "Just speaking from experience. After all, you're the muse for all of my love songs." Miko groaned and rolled her eyes at his teasing tone. She pulled away from him as he pretended to pout. "Aw, don't be like that, Miko," he teased. "Don't you know I'm in love with you?"

Miko rolled her eyes again and shook her head. "The only person you're in love with is yourself, Shinjiro."

Before he could retort, a loud yell came from the living room. The idols ran out of the music room to see Nanami standing just outside of Miko's room, looking panicked. Where's Tomoe? Miko's mind immediately turned to the white-haired fox. Did something happen? "What is it?"

"Let me borrow your kitchen and some money!"

Miko sat in the kitchen, watching Nanami work quietly. "Tomoe woke up," the former land god explained as she prepared the food. "When I asked him if he wanted anything, he said he wanted to eat rice balls."

Rice balls? Miko raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, a memory sprang into Miko's mind, familiar voices echoing softly.

'I want rice balls!' A young wolf girl demanded, her long black hair reaching down to her waist. Her tail flicked impatiently as she looked up at the white-haired fox.

'I see you're still bossy as ever,' he replied as he made his way to the kitchen.

'And you're still a dummyhead.'

"Heh, I want some bacon and scrambled eggs as a too early breakfast." Kurama's sarcastic tone snapped Miko out of her flashback. She turned to look at the Tengu, who was leaning on the counter watching Nanami. The former land god rolled her eyes but continued working. "Do you even know how to make rice balls? You could have just bought some pre-made rice cakes."

Nanami scrunched up her nose at the suggestion and shook her head. "Preserved food is a poor person's friend," she responded. The young girl never looked up from her work as she spoke, her expression gentle. "My mom often made me rice balls when I was little." Her eyes darkened a little when she said that, and Miko immediately knew why. She had heard that tone in her own voice many times: the tone of someone who had lost a parent. Kurama had never really understood that feeling; he had explained to Miko that women were not allowed on the mountain, so he hadn't had a mother to miss, and Miko sensed only bitterness when he mentioned his father. Still, she could tell he missed his family.

"Hey, Nanami," Miko piped up, drawing the attention of the other two. "Can I help?" She smiled sheepishly, ignoring the light warmth in her cheeks. "Tomoe used to make rice balls for me when I was little. I'd like to return the favor." The brown-haired girl smiled and gestured with her head for Miko to come over. Nanami explained how to shape and roll the rice as she worked. Miko felt herself relax as she settled into a steady rhythm and soon the two girls were hard at work, talking and giggling. Neither one noticed the crow Tengu watching them, his dark eyes resting on Miko before glancing at Nanami. Neither one noticed when he sighed, got up, and left either.

"Done!" Nanami proclaimed, throwing up her hands. She smiled at the taller woman. "Thank you for your help, Miko." She lifted the tray and walked towards Miko's room. "Tomoe! Sorry for the wait. Here are my special rice balls!" Miko turned to follow her but paused hesitantly. She hadn't left Tomoe's side since he had arrived, and even before that, they had been spending so much time together over the last few weeks. She was sure Nanami didn't mind, but still. Miko didn't want to seem like she was stealing him away. Nanami was his master and they deserved their time together. Nanami's laugh echoed from the room and Miko shook her head, moving to the music room.

Picking up her guitar, Miko sat on the stool and strummed mindlessly. Before she knew it, she was humming the melody from her elusive song. Miko sighed and sang softly, letting her feelings flow into the song.

But what am I gonna say?

When you make me feel this way

I just… Mmm

She closed her eyes and leaned back slightly, racking her brain for the rest of the lyrics. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice the small white fox yokai come in. Tomoe smiled and took the opportunity to study the Miko for a moment, something he'd been doing a lot over the past few days. He was still a little shocked to see the girl he'd once had to carry home fully grown. Until recently, Tomoe had still thought of Miko as the same little girl he'd cared for almost a decade ago. Naturally, he knew she had already grown up, but he could never quite picture it properly. Seeing her then, Tomoe could barely reconcile the two images.

But it was Miko. She had the same determination, the same stubbornness, the same passion and will she had demonstrated to him over and over again. Time and age had made her more compassionate, more considerate of others. This was expected of her, of course, as all children are expected to move past their childish nature at some point, but Tomoe could see that it was more than that. Whatever had happened to Miko in those twelve years, it had matured her beyond her years, and yet she remained kind. This realization stirred a feeling in Tomoe, but he couldn't quite recognize it himself. It bothered him a little, but he pushed it away, attributing it to his new size and weakness.

"Tomoe?" Miko spoke softly, but it was enough to break the white fox out of his daydream. "What are you doing up? You should be resting." She stood to help him, but he raised a hand, looking annoyed.

"I'm fine," he snapped, then cleared his throat with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to having to be watched like a child. Anyway," he added, noting Miko's surprised expression. "Nanami told me you helped make the rice balls, so I wanted to thank you." Miko smiled and nodded, commenting that it was no trouble. She shifted slightly and set down the guitar. Tomoe was surprised that he hadn't noticed her holding it earlier. "Were you playing?"

Miko nodded. "Yeah, but it's not ready yet. I'm still missing a lot of the lyrics."

"Well, would it be alright if I heard what you have so far?"

Miko blinked, unsure how to respond. Tomoe had never shown any interest in her music before, so it was an odd request coming from him. Still, it made happy that he wanted to know more about her and the world she was living in now. Miko nodded hesitantly and helped him sit on the stool across from her before picking up her guitar. Smiling at Tomoe as she started strumming the chords, Miko started into the first words, letting the words flow naturally.

Will you count me in?

I've been awake for a while now

You've got me feelin' like a child now

'Cause every time I see your bubbly face

I get the tingles in a silly place

Moving into the chorus, Miko smiled at Tomoe, barely noticing the Tengu and human girl standing in the doorway behind him. Tomoe listened intently as Miko kept singing, the lyrics falling into place as if she'd known the song the entire time. Miko moved through the chorus and the bridge easily, finishing off the song with the final verse.

I've been asleep for a while now

You tuck me in just like a child now

'Cause every time you hold me in your arms

I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth

It starts in my soul, and I lose all control

When you kiss my nose, the feelin' shows

'Cause you make me smile, baby,

Just take your time now

Holdin' me tight

She strummed the last few notes, blushing when Nanami and Kurama clapped appreciatively. Tomoe nodded, smiling softly. "That sounded pretty complete to me," he told her.

Miko's eyes widened. "Oh, crap, you're right! I need to record this before I forget it!" She shooed the other three out of the room. "Everybody out, I need to get this recorded and sent over to Tazaki so he can get to work on it right away." Kurama groaned about being unappreciated, but his huge grin gave him away as Miko pushed him out. "Oh, and Tomoe," Miko added as she was about to close the door. "Thank you. I guess all I needed was the right audience." Or the right muse, she thought to herself as she closed the door with a giggle.

"Kurama! Why am I in the same bed as you?!" Nanami's shrieking jolted the three yokai awake. Miko immediately sat up, looking around for the danger. She sighed and relaxed when she registered Nanami's words. Kurama rolled his eyes and reminded her that they had all fallen asleep the night before. Nanami nodded, seeming somewhat pacified, before turning to Tomoe. "Tomoe, how are you feeling?"

Tomoe frowned, ignoring the question. "That man is a yokai." He told Nanami firmly. "You need to be more cautious around him."

"Who did you call a yokai?" Kurama growled, grabbing Tomoe by the collar of his shirt. "Are you sure it's alright for you to be up and about, little boy? It seems that your fever hasn't gone down yet!"

Kurama growled directly into Tomoe's face and Miko snarled protectively, pulling the fox out of his hand."Hey! Don't be so rough with Tomoe!" She held Tomoe close, her golden eyes glaring at the Tengu. "Kurama, you should know better than to do that!"

The Tengu ignored her, leaning forward to speak directly to Tomoe. "Getting covered for by a girl like that, you're oh-so-cool," he scoffed at the fox. "Don't forget that the whole reason Nanami is here is because of you."

"Kurama!" Miko scolded, moving out of the room. "Don't be ridiculous. None of this is Tomoe's fault!"

But Tomoe knew that wasn't true. Nanami would have found a job and a place to stay on her own by then if she hadn't had to care for him. She certainly wouldn't be indebted to that troublesome crow. He looked up at Miko and sighed. Neither would you. That was true too. Tomoe had been the one charged with watching Miko all those years ago, but she had run away with Kurama under Tomoe's own nose. If he had been a better guardian, a better familiar, perhaps Miko would never have even met Kurama, nor would Nanami. It killed him to be so helpless as he watched the two girls sacrifice for his sake. Something had to be done, that much Tomoe knew. But what?

"We've got to get going," Kurama commented, glancing at his watch. "It's already late."

"Where are you going?" Nanami glanced up at the pair as Miko set Tomoe down on the bed once more.

Miko sighed. "We have to go to work. I'd stay and help if I could, but we have a rehearsal for a live performance at ten. Can't be helped." She began packing her bag and glanced over at Nanami who seemed down. She giggled and poked at the younger girl's arm. "You're looking like you're going to be lonely by yourself."

"Of course not!" Nanami protested, but Kurama was already handing her several items.

"Here's a spare key for the house, my cell phone number, and some money," he told her firmly. "Call me if anything happens." With that he walked out the door, Miko following with a helpless shrug as she waved goodbye to Nanami and Tomoe. Despite her worry, Miko knew that there wasn't really much else she could do at the moment.

And so, the fox and the wolf went their separate ways, each one feeling equally helpless towards one another, and maybe, just maybe, something more.

Miko sat at her manager's desk, going over the new song. They were discussing the timeline for the new release and whether to fit it on the next album or just put it out as a single.

Or, rather, that's what they should have been discussing. The interaction fit more along the lines of Tazaki offering potential options for doing one thing or another and Miko nodding along absentmindedly. She couldn't help it, really. She had tried to pay attention, but her mind kept drifting back to Tomoe. She kept glancing at the door, wondering if Nanami would burst through the door to tell her some horrible news.

Miko had just turned back from the door for what seemed like the hundredth time when it slammed open loudly. She jumped in surprise and turned to see Kurama standing in the doorway. "Hey, what are you doing back? I thought you went home half an hour ago." She tried to sound nonchalant, but the way the crow Tengu rolled his eyes at her made it obvious he wasn't buying the act.

"I ran into Nanami on the way home." Miko's heart seemed to skip a beat. She immediately tensed up, moving towards the door. Kurama didn't bother to stop her, simply continuing his story. "Apparently Tomoe went back to the shrine." He had explained the situation to Miko on the way to work, so she wasn't exactly surprised, but the news still irked her. "But now, he's hiding somewhere in the shrine. No one can find him."

The brunette took off running, ignoring Kurama and Tazaki's calls. All she could think about at that moment was Tomoe. Her best friend, her only remaining family was in trouble and not even Lady Izanami herself could stop her. All Miko could see as she ran was Tomoe's face. First as an adult, fiercely protecting her from all the bad in the world, then as a child, comforting and sweet. I've got to save him. I won't let anyone touch what's mine.

"Tomoe!" Miko called as she reached the top steps of the shrine. She heard voices inside as she slowed down to get a better grasp of the situation.

"I'm very grateful," a familiar male voice spoke from inside the main room. Tomoe! Miko pulled open the doors but froze in place immediately.

It was Tomoe alright, but he looked completely different. His silver hair was now reaching his waist, and his bright lavender eyes carried even more mischief than normal. He was dressed in very elaborate yet old-fashioned clothes.

But more shocking than that, he was kissing Nanami. Miko thought her heart had stopped working for a moment. It was only after he pulled away that she could breathe again. "That's to reseal the familiar contract," he told Nanami. The pair seemed to realize they weren't alone at the same time, because they both turned to Miko. "Oh, Miko. Is everything alright? You seem out of breath."

Nanami looked flushed, but said nothing, simply watching for Miko's reaction. The older girl shook her head, trying to speak past the lump in her throat. "Yeah- yeah, I'm fine. Kurama told me what happened, so I rushed over. But I'm glad to see you're back to normal, Tomoe."

Almost immediately after the words left her mouth, Miko turned and walked out of the shrine, ignoring both of them. It normal for her to be jealous, she supposed. Having had Tomoe to herself for so long, it would be natural to get territorial.

But Miko wasn't jealous. She was numb. She walked down the steps of the mountain, suddenly feeling exhausted. Even still, she was berating herself. How could she have been so foolish? Tomoe didn't belong to Miko; he never did. He belonged to Mikage, and now he belonged to Nanami. It was so obvious, and yet she had managed to fool herself into thinking he was actually hers. And what did she have to claim?

A familiar figure was waiting for Miko when she arrived at the base of the mountain. She didn't acknowledge him, simply continuing on her way home. He followed, seeming oblivious to her mood. "So?"

"Tomoe's fine. They found him and he's back to normal." Her tone was emotionless, but Miko couldn't find it in herself to care.

"I see." Kurama shrugged as they walked. "Makes sense. That was almost an hour ago."

"Wait, what?" Miko paused and turned to look at her friend.

Kurama nodded. "Yeah, I saw Nanami right outside of work. I went back to tell you, but they were selling taiyaki at a stand and I got distracted."

Miko just stared at him, too shocked to respond for a moment. "Kurama… you big idiot!"

Hey guys! Below are the songs sung by Miko and Kurama if you want to check them out.

Hurricane by The Vamps

Bubbly by Colbie Caillat