I'm sorry!!! This has been done and on here since Thursday, but I've had books to read and Stat homework and we have to BUY the thing to do the one problem! WHAT!? I found the license thing, and it's 140 dollars to use it til April! WHAT!??!

So please forgive my tardiness. I'm posting it now, cause I'm going up to Boston this weekend and I want to make sure this goes up sometime before next week. Happy Birthday to my buddy Kyome Urameshi! I hope you enjoy this chapter. The story's starting to turn boys and girls. Hope it makes sense. Please read and review my lovelies!

Chapter 14

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Kaori asked as they walked through the park.

"I'll start simple. Why does my master want you?" Kurogane asked, hands folded behind his back as he looked at the trees.

"Well, cause I'm powerful, I guess," she said, looking down at her hands. Kurogane chuckled at the comment.

"You guess?" he smirked, looking at her out the corner of his eye. "Do you not understand your power?"

"Well, no. I mean, the jerk killed my family when I was little, so I never learned the extent of my power." Kaori paused walking, distracted by her thoughts. "I never cared what I could do...I just wish I had more time with them." When she looked up at Kurogane, his face had softened with almost pity, but he turned away when their eyes met.

"So you have no idea what you can do?" He asked with his back to her.

"…You do though, don't you?" Kaori asked softly. Kurogane turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Konajiru must know, because he won't let me go. He insists that I can help him, that I'm strong enough, but I couldn't even tap into my true powers until Kurama-" Kaori paused and looked up into his eyes.

"I see," he said with a smirk. "So the emotional connection gets into your true powers. So I wonder what would happen..." Kaori swung at him with both fists but he caught her wrists.

"Leave Kurama alone!" she pleaded, tears forming. "I don't want him to get hurt! I beg you!" Kurogane chuckled at her.

"My dear, I have no intention of using your fox against you," he explained, holding her hands together with a firm grip on her wrists. "Now, if he gets in the way, I may be forced to act. However, do not expect me to attack him to get to you."

"Thank you," Kaori answered, looking down. Slowly she raised her eyes again. "But…"

"Hmm?"

"Why?"

Kurogane couldn't hide a smirk. "You want me to kill your beloved? Why didn't you just say so?"

"No, I mean, why are you doing this? I beat your master, no one knew he was alive to go after him. Why are you still after me?"

Kurogane's smirk grew. "I have my own motives," he said, staring straight into her eyes. He tugged slightly at her wrists, making Kaori take an involuntary step forward until his face was right above hers, and lowered his voice to just over a whisper. "It is true my master wanted to use you to take over the worlds, but I did not share his ambition. I've always had an interest in rare breeds, kitsunes especially, but not out of desire of power. I would never kill you, my dear, because of your rarity, as I will not kill your mate, to ensure your breed continues. That is, of course, unless he is not yet your mate. That would be interesting, would it not? A kitsune as rare and lovely as yourself with no one to claim you." His smirk grew into a thoughtful grin.

Kaori looked at him with confusion and slight fear as she began to tremble. "Stop it," she said in a voice as firm as she could muster. "Let me go." A grin crossed the demons face.

"You know, mixing breeds of rare kitsunes makes stronger offspring," he continued, holding her hands close. "That is what my master intended to do with you, you know." Kaori nodded, trying to pull her hands free. "I'm surprised you never asked what kind of demon I was."

At this Kaori froze, staring into his eyes as hers grew wide. The grin on his face broke into an open smile. "You're…a kitsune?"

"Only half, my dear," he purred, satisfied. "I am half kitsune, and half lightening demon, you see. This allows me to have this form while still being able to manipulate my energy, unlike you who must lose your disguise whenever your energy grows to great."

"…what do you plan to do?" Kaori asked slowly. Kurogane leaned down until his mouth was next to Kaori's human ear.

"I will challenge your potential mate," he whispered, breath making Kaori shiver all over. "Both your kitsune and my master."

"B-but…" Kaori was confused. "I don't want you or Konajiru!" Kurogane chuckled, pulling back.

"Then hope your kitsune wins," he smiled. He released her hands and stepped away, smug smile gracing his face. "It's funny. My mother was such a vixen, she attracted my father like...well, like lightening to a metal pole." At this he chuckled, looking Kaori over with a grin. "I will stay in touch, my dear." With that he turned and strolled away with his hands in his pockets. Kaori stood and watched him go, her hands close to her chest, trying to slow down her heartbeat.

Hiei, she thought. She was immediately granted a response.

Kurama and I are on our way, he said. We'll meet you halfway. And walk. There are humans nearby. Kaori agreed silently before turning and walking back in the direction of the temple. She'd definitely need this time to think.

Kurogane was half kitsune. She wasn't interested in him at all, and he definitely scared her with his closeness. But there was something about his eyes. The way he looked at her, the way he looked through her own.

It was the same way Kurama did.

Kaori was so preoccupied that she bumped her shoulder into someone walking in the other direction. "Excuse me," she said absentmindedly as the person paused slightly beside her.

"Sure thing," the girl said. Kaori paused, then looked behind her. Mayumi gave her a smile, but her eyes were cold as ice before she turned to walk on her way. Kaori was slightly confused as to why Mayumi was there, much less why she smiled at her, but she had too many problems on her mind.

"Kaori!" she turned back to see Kurama and Hiei walking towards her.

"So much for the middle," she chuckled lightly, trying to erase the uneasiness from her face.

"We were able to sprint here without people seeing us," Kurama explained. He paused a moment, then leaned in close to Kaori. "His scent is on you." Kaori's eyes grew wide as she smelled Kurogane on her as well.

"I did try to hit him," she said slowly, trying to avoid explanation on his closeness. "It must have been when he caught my hands."

"What did he do to deserve being hit?" Kurama asked. Kaori paused, eyes looking down but not focusing on anything present. "Kaori?"

"He wants a competition, between you, him, and Konajiru," she sighed.

"For what?" Hiei asked, raised eyebrow. Kaori looked up and met Kurama's surprised yet knowing eyes.

"Me."

Mayumi pulled out her digital camera after she was far enough away from Kaori to study her images. She couldn't help but grin at her handy work. Not only did she hear Kaori confess concern over someone named Kurama, but she had a shot of this mysterious man whispering and possibly kissing her ear. Mayumi couldn't be sure, but by the surprise on Kaori's face, she knew he did something. He even held her hands for most of their conversation.

She grinned looking back, then paused. Shuichi was there? He was talking with Kaori, but seemed to have been looking for her. He looked…worried. It made Mayumi sick, but she knew soon she would show him the truth. She knew what Kaori was doing, and there was no way she was going to let her get away with it.

"Enjoy him while you can, Kaori Ikeda," Mayumi mused while turning away. "He's slipping through your fingers and back into mine."