My apologies… ;; I lost track again. I had to go reread the entire fic. And, I'm probably going to go back and rewrite it…to…you know…be better. I need a beta. Any volunteers? It'd also be your responsibility to make me update more regularly…;;

Purple (Emma)- its unlikely the amount that Adrian is taking would kill her. But, there can be some effects if enough time isn't given between drainings. Demonic properties help that blood regenerate faster. The best of luck goes to Youko from my heart too, but I'm really not sure if I'm ready for issues to be resolved yet…;;

As a preview, here is a list of things you can expect to happen in the future; Hopefully near;

-A visit from Karasu. (Yes. I'm serious. Karasu lovers will have a bit of love and affection, while the haters are going to either A) hate him even more B) toss their cookies or C) Go into something of a shocked coma.

-Kassie's elusive bits of past (That wild stage, perhaps even Zack, if I get around to it.) will be revealed.

-Karaoke!!!!

-And, last, and possibly least, (if only you knew) What exactly is Sam?

Why did I feel ridiculously ill? The alarm went off in the form of a monkey bounding across my room, hanging from my ceiling. Vaguely I was reminded of when Kasumi first came out, and Yusuke said that Kasumi had hung from the ceiling by her tail. He'd been trying to figure out exactly what it was she had latched onto. I was wondering the same thing now, except in this case, it was about Sen.

Even when your bed is nestled into the wall, it is pretty much impossible to sleep through a screaming monkey. Not even –I- am that hardy when it come to sleeping. And I've slept through a hurricane before. To my credit, at least I realized right now was a really bad time to wake up. I felt like I hadn't slept at all. You know that weak feeling you get when you are utterly exhausted? That's what it felt like. It took me a while to realize it was just that I felt sick. Same thing. Something about being sick is exhausting.

To my credit, at least I tried to roll over and go back to sleep. But like I said. Annoying monkey, hanging from… something… on my ceiling.

Only in this house.

Finally, when he practically landed on me (How on earth was he supposed to get inside anyway. I mean, honestly, what kind of trajectory would you need. You'd have to have exactly the right angle in order to land inside my bed. It's in the WALL! He did though. Actually, he hit the curtains, bounced off with a dull thunk and then scrambled up to open the curtains with more chattering.

I threw my pillow at him.

Seriously, what did you expect me to do? A monkey opened my curtain, stuck his face in and chattered at me like some possessed creature. I wasn't feeling well, and I was TIRED! So I threw the pillow at him. It seemed like a good idea. Sen flew across the room, tiny monkey frame colliding into the wall with splurge of feathers and an angry shriek. When the cloud settled down, Sen was laying against the wall, dazed, but alive.

And apparently, not happy.

Ooops.

"I was just trying to wake you up Kass… you don't have to practically kill me…" Was Sen always this whiny, or had I just discovered this?

"…Sorry…" I looked at him for a moment, and then rolled over. I could still go back to sleep. It wasn't too late. Apparently, Sen had other ideas. He actually grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bed. Now it was my turn to whine and complain. "Lemmmmmeeeee go… I don't waaaant to wake up…" I couldn't stand very well. That certainly didn't make being pulled across the hall any easier.

Lounging in his room, was something that jolted me awake. Any hope of falling asleep again was shattered when my heart started pounding, and I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Looking as perfect as usual, Kurama was lounging on Sen's bed. Normally, this would be a cause for alarm. He hadn't spent the night here, right? There was no way that Kurama was… no, I knew he wasn't. He just didn't like me.

"Whats… going on?" I felt cold. That wasn't' a good thing. I was definitely nervous now too. I wanted a wall to my back, as bad as that was. I really hadn't learned my lesson there, now had I? Instead, I was perfectly still. Sen found himself a hammock in the corner and hovered there, waiting for something. For whatever was going to happen here. Which, I still had no idea what. Kurama closed those lovely emerald eyes and sighed.

This wasn't a good sign, but why was he doing this here, and not with everyone else? "Kasumi did something, didn't she?"

I love how you jump to it being MY fault, Kassie.

To my surprise (or not really) he nodded. "She has been smuggling out at night." He seemed to be holding back, but immediately, I was covering my ears, and bent over. Kasumi was throwing a fit now, yelling at someone who couldn't hear, and making me miserable in the process. It was distracting. I couldn't hear my own thoughts, only Kasumi's rant.

"Kassie, focus on my voice." Why was it so easy to do that? I nod a little, and try to focus. "Tonight, you cannot let Kasumi out. She's been selling you out for a place to stay away from the house. I… will not go into details for your sake." I still couldn't make her shut up. My sinuses were getting overcome. I think I felt like there was some kind of migraine coming on. She was starting to get even louder now. I felt so lost, and overwhelmed. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I was able to open my eyes. I was able to focus on that instead, for better or for worse. Kasumi's voice got quieter and quieter as the panic passed- in both of us.

"…Why are we in Sen's room? Haven't you told everyone else?"

Silence. Had I actually spoken or… "I don't see the need to alert them just yet. We will get this under control." Apparently, I had…

Augh! I cannot understand why he has to get involved. He can have ANY girl, why can't he just leave me and mine, alone! Persistent kitsune… Blasted mortal males getting involved. And the immortal ones are worse!

Kasumi. Please. Just be quiet. "I'm sorry to have made Sen wake you. I wanted to speak to you before the others were awake to avoid being overheard. As much as Hiei might distrust Sen, I feel he was the best to tell. Hiei would be in favor of locking you in the basement. Or even a more extreme option."

Lovely. Just looovely. I already don't feel good, and all this. I felt a bed coming up beneath me and accepted it gratefully. Silence fell again. I've mentioned how much I hate silence, right? Right. So for this, I wasn't sure if it was helping my migraine or making it ten times worse. "Do you feel alright?" Once more, that level headed voice was pushing through my consciousness, distracting me from, well, dying in my own self pity.

"No. I feel sick. Again." The day before Kasumi had emerged, I had felt ridiculously ill- before becoming ridiculously hyper the next day. Scary enough for you? He didn't seem surprised though. It seemed as if he was going to have something else to say, but a loud crash from downstairs pretty much, once again, shattered the possibility of continuing the conversation. I jumped to my feet and dashed to the stairs, hurrying down. My head was swimming, but I had to get out of there. Right then. No waiting.

_____

It was several minutes before Kurama arrived downstairs. I'd essentially calmed down by then, and was chatting civily with Sam. Surprisingly, Sam was returning the favor. It wasn't often Sam even had the capacity to speak without scaring people. She just always seemed to disturb people, usually without trying.

"So…yeah… I'm going to get those pictures for you, Sam. … … What do you need those for again?" The demon of unknown origin shifted a little bit.

"Curiosity…." I was putting forth the utmost effort to keep calm, and to not be so entirely aware of Kurama's presence. It was more difficult than one might think. Or, maybe you all do understand.

Kassie, dear, just keep focused on the fact he's just your friend. Most fangirls don't even get that much! Enjoy what you get…

I hated it when she had a point. I pulled my thoughts back on track. "I'll get the pictures then…today… If I can survive my classes…"

Sam's eyes began glowing with excitement, as she began giggling. "Yeah, I saw what happened in the gym. It was hilarious." I groaned, throwing my arms over the table and burying my head in my hands. She was joking right? I didn't ever want to remember that…Wait…how did Sam…

I jumped up, glaring at the girl in front of me. "How do YOU know about that? No one here saw that!"" Same simply began giggling before the answer slid out in bursts of lucidity.

"Oh… I was…watching…from school… It was…. HEHEHEH…. sooooo classic Kassie…" Unfortunately, her outburst drew the attention of Yusuke and Kuwabara, as well as drawing the eyes of Hiei and Kurama, their notice a lot quieter and subtle but still there. Silently, I looked at her, begging her not to tell the embarrassment of dodgeball madness, but… Since when had Sam ever avoided madness?

"You guys should have seen it! She opened the gym doors and BAM! RIGHT IN THE FACE! That idiot teacher was throwing dodgeballs at entering students! The person who decided that HE got to be a teacher ought to be drawn and quartered…Oh wait, he'd enjoy that…never mind… er…point being… that little triplet helped her up and then they ran laps. Or rather, she ran, the others just loped casually. And then, HE MADE THEM PLAY DODGBALL!!! And then, the girl, not Kassie obviously, cheated, and HE dinged her…But that's not the best part! Then it was only Kassie! And all the boys threw stuff at her, and none of it hit her. And then she threw all the balls at them, and then the boys threw them back, and it knocked her not only out but DOWN. It was the most epic dodgeball game I've ever WATCHED!. And…. I've seen people play some pretty epic dodgeball."

If I could have crawled into a hole and disappeared? I totally would have. And not come out ever. Yusuke and Kuwabara were laughing their shoes off, Hiei was chuckling darkly while slipping up behind Sam, his hand resting on her shoulder, and finally driving her to shut her trap and just look up at him a grin on her features. Kurama was laughing too. Ugh, this was already a bad day. And I haven't even showered yet..Or had I… I couldn't REMEMBER!

My headache was back, and now, I simply just groaned. Part of it was from embarrassment, the rest was from the slicing pain that was starting to pulse through my head.

"Maybe I shouldn't go to school today.." Just the thought was making my stomach turn. But it was almost one of those excited turns. That roller coaster turn. That- OMIGOSH! Whose hand is on my shoulder. As. If. I. Didn't. Already. Know. I jerked suddenly upright, staring at Kurama with a confused and lost expression. "… …Yes?"

"Let me look over you. Saiko would probably be a better choice, but I have picked up a few diagnostic skills."

What is he playing at…

I watch him, confused and wary. I was still trying to figure out how to kill my crush so I could think straight, and the last thing I wanted to do was let him be looking over me… "F-Fine…" Yeah, I still…couldn't really say no to him. Well, I could. The words could come out, but there was absolutely no force behind them. Unless there was fear. Fear was a good force for that. Like when I'd told him I couldn't jump off a thirty foot platform. Okay, so maybe it wasn't thirty feet. It was more like ten or fifteen… Okay, so, I don't really remember. Point being, now? I couldn't tell him no, no matter how much better it was for my health. Or…would it really be better for my health to turn him…. Oh I was just…really lost.

…You… really ought to get a spine sometime Kassie.

Thanks, it really is wonderful to hear you say that. How about something constructive this time?

Stick with me, dearie. I'll teach you everything a female ought to know. How to tell the most attractive of men, no. And honestly? Kurama is only average. Or slightly above…

Now you are just lying.

Am I? Kasumi purred back. Wouldn't you like to know dear… now… Oh WHAT is he doing?

Was it me, or did I space out more when I spoke with Kasumi? A hand was on my temple, tilting my head to one side. Another hand came into contact, this time brushing long ordinary dishwater blonde hair over my shoulder and peering at my neck. I was surprised he didn't check the other side. He did check the temple on the other side, though I had no CLUE what he was looking for. The last thing, the most nerve rattling of all, was when his finger crooked ever so slightly under my chin, and tilted my head up to inspect the from beneath. It was just… so… I could feel a bit of fire on my cheeks, and knew I was blushing. His eyes were just so focused on my throat… …. WHY?

Kasumi fell far too silent for my tastes, but finally I he straightened up, though my head remained slightly pointed upward, resting on his finger still. The eyes met mine again and it was just…way too easy to get caught up in those emerald pooles. I couldn't breathe… Drat it, he ALWAYS did this to me. This time, however, Kasumi's yowl pierced through the haze and I jerked away suddenly, jamming my eyes shut.

"Did…you figure out what…the problem was?"

He was quiet for a moment, and I fancied I still felt his eyes watching me, but I wasn't looking to prove it. "I have some ideas… For now, I left a vial of analgesic on your day bed. Thirteen drops, will last you for three days. Do not take anymore than that… The effects… could be dangerous. " That was all I needed to hear.

"...I need to get ready for school…" It wasn't the most innovative excuse, but it was valid, and it worked well enough with the subject matter. I was upstairs as fast as I could manage, and sure enough, sitting there was a vial and a little cup, with a small folded paper note next to it. A note I didn't have the courage to open, but my fingers caught it up anyway unbidden. I picked up the vial, which smelled strongly of mint. Thirteen drops, eh? A dropper slid out of the note, and I gulped as I picked it up. Carefully I counted the drops panicked about making a mistake. Thirteen. I set the dropper aside, and picked up the sharp green liquid.

You trust him, don't you?

…Yes? No, I wasn't even sure I knew why it came out that way. But I did know, that scent was powerful, and definitely everywhere it seemed, wrapping around my mind like a soft numbing blanket… I hurriedly put the cup down.

Ah, but you question it anyway… Do you REALLY trust him?

… Didn't I already answer that…? I had answered that, hadn't I?

Rule # 1 about staying alive in a dangerous world, Kassie. Don't trust anyone.

I think I know rule number two…

Oh? What is it? It was obvious she didn't put any stock in my answer. But that's okay, it wasn't really serious…I didn't… think….

Just to bother her, I scooped up the little cup and downed it in one gulp, the mint burning a peaceful, soothing trail all the way down, shooting this thought out at the same time.

Don't call me Kassie.

Next Chapter:

.... Officially blowing Kassie/Kurama relationship to the Makai.

.... Officially taking the first few steps to repairing said relationship.

.... More of those fun-fun teachers. 33

.... A surprise failure

.... A surprise romance

.... and more~!