12

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.


I'm a baaad wabbit. Oh and the decision is in, no non-cannon romance here folks, which is what I mostly intended originally.
Sage: yeah, this is AU after the Sensui arc, so Yusuke's no longer the spirit detective, that's also why Kurama was so hesitant to contact Spirit World, since he also no longer works for them. I haven't seen the three kings arc, which is why I go off cannon at this point. (I also don't like all of what I know about it, lol)

Spirit Evolution: glad you like it, and silly comments are Always appreciated!

s: 's'? lol. Yeah it can be difficult tho, cuz I get mushy and want to turn everything into a hook-up of some kind, but I won't! And yes, always attack during the monologue, that's what the last, ultimate super-secret gadget is designed for in any good adventure!

Armed'n'Strangerous: no romance, ok! But I cannot promise a lack of flirting.

cher-cher91: and then it takes me two months to update….

Luna Forest: more at last, I guess you've had plenty of time to get over your writer's block by now… yeah Hana's surprising sometimes


That Sunday Kurama told his mother he was going out for the day and she smiled affectionately while telling him to be careful.

"I will Mom, don't worry about me," he said as he headed for the door.

"And tell Hana-chan I say hi."

He paused mid-step before slowly glancing around at the woman bustling through living room. "But—"

"Oh Shuichi, I know that you're going to see her. She's such a nice girl, if a bit strange."

"Mom, I'm not—" he began to protest.

"Go on now dear, you don't want to be late." She smiled at him and made a shooing motion.

"Yes. Have a good day."

He left the house and shook his head as he began heading down the street. It was unfortunate his mother thought his relationship with Hana was like that. He hoped the demoness was not under the same impression. But then he reminded himself she was an antelope, and probably not a creature that would develop such feelings or focus her attention on only one male. Hadn't she been telling him that she was trying to get Yusuke's attention just the other day? And then there was Kuwabara. She had also acted strangely towards Kaito, but that might have had a different motivation. It was something he would address when he had to, for instance when Keiko was demanding why he had left such a creature in Yusuke's house.

Speaking of, he arrived there shortly and went up to Yusuke's flat. Atsuko answered the door and was not yet completely intoxicated. "Hey, it's the pretty one," she said by way of greeting and Kurama smiled faintly at her.

"Hello. I was wondering if—"

"Yeah, they're here." She stepped back from the door to let him in and turned towards the living room to shout "Yusuke, you're buddy's here. Get your butt out here!"

"Alright Ma, I'm coming!" the teenager shouted back.

"Hana win! Hana win!"

"Only because I was distracted!" Yusuke emerged as Atsuko moved back into the apartment. "Hey Kurama, come help me defeat the little monster. I taught her how to play super smash brothers and she's been kicking my ass for the last half hour."

Kurama slipped out of his shoes and followed Yusuke into the living room where Hana was holding her controller in one hand and using the other hand to point to the buttons on the other one that Atsuko should push. The woman was mashing the buttons as per the demon's orders and frowning at the screen.

"I still don't know how you guys sit here for hours and play this damn thing." She looked up from the screen to make a face at her son.

"Red, red, red!" Hana called, going so far as to reach over and press the button for Atsuko.

"Is it some kind of demon thing that you play video games well?" Yusuke punched Kurama's arm playfully and continued watching Hana.

"I believe it is more a matter of free time, and the ability to pick up skills quickly, which Hana has demonstrated quite effectively with her quick grasp of our language. But I'm afraid, Yusuke that I am not here to help you defeat Hana at video games."

Both the teen and demoness looked up at him at this. "What do Chi-chan?"

"Hana, do you remember Tanaka-san?"

"Keita, with the clothes?"

"Er, yes. Tanaka Keita. He's asked that you come over again today. Do you want to go?"

"Now?" she asked glancing between Atsuko and the paused game on the TV.

"Well Yes Hana. You can play video games later tonight, but Tanaka-san will only be there during the day today."

"Ok, we go." She popped up and handed her controller to Yusuke before addressing his mother. "Atsuko no drink, tonight I teach, play good."

The woman smiled up at the serious expression on the girl's face and laughed. "Okay kid, don't worry, I'll wait till you get back."

"Good. I see later!" She waved and bounced off to the door to slip into her shoes.

"I'm not sure how long this is going to take, but I'll walk Hana back afterwards."

"Yeah, well have fun being hit on by fashion designers," Yusuke laughed at his friend. "And don't go angry youko on them!"

"I'm not going to—" Kurama began to reply but Hana grabbed him by the arm and tugged him towards the door.

"You say go, we go!"

"Yes, yes, we're going."


When they arrived at Keita's shop the proprietor was waiting impatiently and pounced on Hana immediately.

"I've had all the dresses altered to your measurements, but we still need to do a final fitting to make sure they fit correctly. Then Kenji will run you over to Midori. You, uh—" Tanaka pointed at Kurama and snapped a few times, trying to think of his name. "Minamino? You'll fill out the forms, over here."

He led the way into the back, one hand firmly clutching Hana's arm. He pointed to a stack of paperwork and left it to Kurama as he continued to pull the girl away. Kurama watched Hana go, she was an antelope, used to following and moving in groups, so she seemed completely unruffled to be dragged around by the plump little man. Now that he knew she felt comfortable and that Keita had no interest in her expect to see her modeling his clothes he felt he could relax slightly.

"I thought she was Austrian," the assisstant Kenji said and Kurama looked up to where the man was hovering over his shoulder.

"She was raised there, but she is my cousin and has Japanese citizenship."

"Well, that makes the paperwork easier at least," the man shrugged elegantly as he stepped away. Kurama watched while he went to fiddle with a pile of fabric at the other end of the table before he went back to work. There was quiet for a few minutes with only the soft sound of rustling fabric and Keita's soft comments to himself as he adjusted whatever Hana was wearing.

"Have you ever thought of modeling?" Kurama looked around at the other man who was now sitting on the end of the table, a dress spread over his lap and a needle in hand as he beaded the hem. "It would be good money on the side."

"I work part time for my step-father, I don't need the money."

"So uptight," he sighed and rolled his eyes. Kurama tried to ignore him and fill out a section on Hana's parents. He decided it would be best is she was an orphan and marked 'deceased' on the form. "Why then do you allow your 'cousin' to model?"

"She enjoys it, apparently." Kurama pushed the papers across the table in front of him and reshuffled them slightly. "Why do you ask these questions?"

"Haven't you ever heard of small talk?" Kenji said with a snap of his wrist as he pulled the needle through the shimmering fabric. "Come on boy, have a little personality."

Kurama controlled his annoyance and refused to acknowledge the annoying man. Why were all these people so rude and personal? Kenji's cell phone rang and he answered it immediately. 'Thankfully that will keep him busy for a while,' Kurama thought as he flipped to the next page.


"OK, we're ready!"

Kurama sat up abruptly and looked around. He had been dozing in his chair, waiting for the actual photo shoot to start. Keita swept into the room, practically dancing in circles as he skipped across the floor. Hana was following after him. Her hair was up in some huge, fan shape and the dress was a mass dark bands running in all directions but somehow she was not swallowed up by it, or the makeup covering half her face. It was those bottomless eyes of hers, alert and watching.

"Chi-chan," she called out, tripping towards him in her obscenely high heels. They made her at least three inches taller than him. "You're going to have to explain what they're saying to me again," she said as she grabbed his arm and began tugging. "I think that for one of our lessons we should just talk about the words they use here so I will be able to understand by myself. You don't like sitting here all this time doing nothing."

"Hana, it's no problem."

"But you not want do always. Maybe," and here she gave him a rather sly sideways look, "I no go school anymore."

"Hana! You need to be exposed to proper Japanese, not just Yusuke and Kuwabara's version. And—"

"You think important, I still go," she said quickly. "But no like."

"We'll see," he said and helped her follow Keita to a back door in the studio. "Stairs?"

"Yes! We're going up to the roof today, the sky is perfect and I want these done out over the roofs."

"Why did you have her put on those ridiculous shoes first?"

"She's fine. Come on Hana-chan!"

Hana made a wavering noise and took Keita's extended hand. With him pulling from in front and Kurama walking behind her to catch her if she fell Hana made it up the stairs and out onto the roof. It was another long photo shoot, but even worse than the previous one since once they finished with one outfit Keita hustled her down the stairs to change into another one and had her hair rearranged. Kurama had brought a book and sat reading it in an out of the way corner until he was called on to translate something.

"Ok Hana, look aggressive, look fierce," the photographer said. Hana pushed her now gold-highlighted bangs to the side and glanced at the fox demon.

"Predator," he replied without even looking up.

"Oh excellent Hana!" Keita exclaimed as she struck a new pose.

And so it went. Finally in the late afternoon she had been trotted out in all the outfits Keita wanted her to model and now they were done. Hana pulled off her fake eyelashes and let out a long breath as she was able to regain her normal posture.

"I'm hungry," she muttered to no one in particular as they began to pack away the equipment.

"Come on Hana, let's get you out of that dress." Keita took her by the arm and began to lead her away. Kurama pushed himself to his feet and followed after them, staying quiet and unnoticed.

"I'm going to recommend you to everyone I know," Keita said as they headed back down the stairs and out into his studio. "You're quite a good little model darling, I absolutely adore you. Anyone in their right mind would. But of course I will want you all the time for my own work, you fit it so well."

"Thank you very much, Keita-san," Hana said as she dropped him a bow. She was getting good at bowing, but still lacked a native fluency.

"You're too adorable Hana-chan." He left her to get changed and went to fetch his check book. "So how should I make this one out?" He pursed his lips and looked at Kurama.

"To Minamino Hana," Kurama directed. "We opened her bank account the other day."

"And her name is the character for flower?"

"Correct. You said you would be recommending her to other designers. What number will you be giving them?"

"Yours of course," Keita laughed as he signed the check with a flourish. "Perhaps you should get her a cell phone and register her with an agency, my boy."

"Hm, I will think about it."

Hana popped up at his side and pulled the check from Kurama's hand just as he took it from Keita. "Oh, me see, my name. Keita write very pretty."

The plump man smiled appreciatively as Kurama worked the slip of paper from the girl's fingers and tucked it into a pocket. "Don't play with checks Hana," he admonished her. She pouted and crossed her arms as they said goodbye to Keita and began the walk back to Yusukes, with a stop at the bank to deposit the money.


"Shuichi, you've been gone a long time," Shiori observed as her son reentered the house and dropped into a chair in the living room.

He decided he would have to tell his mother some of the truth, he might as well partially explain what was going on. "Hana-chan is a model. At her invitation, I went with her to one of her photo shoots today. I had no idea it would be so long, or that modeling could be such stressful work."

"Oh," Shiori didn't even try to hide her surprise at the news. She settled her book on her lap and gave her son her full attention.

"So did you get to see her naked?" little Shuichi asked, only to be met with horrified looks on all sides.

"No. It was not that kind of photo shoot Shuichi, Hana is a fashion model."

"Well no wonder she's so thin then!" Shiori exclaimed. "And that's why the poor thing hardly eats. I did wonder about that."

At Yusuke's apartment, Hana was describing her day to Yusuke and Atsuko with grand hand motions and exaggerated poses. "And then I had to lay down on the cold cement and twist my arm out of socket!" she exclaimed as she pulled her arm out to an uncomfortable position. "And I couldn't eat or go to the toilet the whole time."

"Ah, you know you don't actually have to work Hana-chan," Atusko said sagely as she sipped a beer.

"Mom! Don't tell her crap like that, she's not going to get mixed up with Yakuza like you."

"My friends are what got your delinquent ass back into school, buddy."

"Yeah, but there's no need for Hana to get into that stuff."

"Alright, I was just saying! So are you going to school tomorrow Yusuke?"

Before he could answer Hana bumped into him and yelled "Yes!" They both stared at her. "He go tell Keiko saying from me."

"And when were you going to tell me this?" Yusuke asked as he shoved the girl away.

"Now! You tell Keiko I want to buy present for Kurama."

"Buy him a present?"

"Yes, for take me around always."

"When do I get a present Hana-chan?" Yusuke said, suddenly schmoozing up to her.

"You brat!" Yusuke cringed as his mother slapped him upside his head. "She's taking us out to dinner tomorrow. Did you forget what I had to wash your good pants for?"

"Okay, okay," he cried, hemmed in on both sides. "I'll go to school tomorrow and tell her, and I'll put on the crummy clothes so we can go to this fancy restaurant."

"Good. Tell her I want to go after school this week." Seeing Yusuke's disgruntled expression she scooted up to him and fixed her wide, watery eyes on his. Seeing the doe eyes Yusuke was quick enough to sense the danger coming, but could not escape it. "Will you read me a story?"

"Again? I read to you last night!" Her bottom lip started trembling and his resolve wavered in face of the onslaught.

"Read anything, it okay. Please, Yusuke."

He made a rumbling noise while trying to look away from her, but she tugged on his sleeve and he just knew those eyes were fixed on him. "Fine. I guess I can read you some of my manga."

"Yay! I like almost as good as history."

花开花了