21
Guys, did the last chapter suck? Please let me know if you think people are getting OOC or if the plot is wandering or not making sense! When I don't get any feedback at all I worry that I've majorly screwed something up.
As Kurama steps into the elevator, Yukina shakes her head. Kuwabara manages to contain himself until the doors close, then he explodes. He's rallied remarkably well after his unintended nap.
"What are you doing with us, Kurama?"
"Leaving, clearly," Kurama snaps, not that he means to.
"Jeeze, don't you like her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Kurama-kun," Yukina says, "Chouko-san clearly was interested in you staying longer."
Kurama doesn't grind his teeth, but he'd like to. "Yes," he says as they reach the ground floor and step out. "I realized that, but it isn't a good idea. It's not—" He searches for the right word while Kuwabara just shakes his head.
"Safe?" Yukina offers.
"Possibly."
"What," Kuwabara snorts, "were you worried she was gonna roofie you?"
Kurama is not amused.
He walks them home and helps Yukina get Kuwabara inside and into bed. The human had been doing ok, until about halfway home, when the early hangover kicked in and things got unpleasant. Yukina starts making tea while Kurama convinces Kuwabara just to sleep it off. Then he goes and sits with the ice demon as they nurse their steaming mugs. Yukina is clearly mulling through the evening, though it's taking her longer than normal and from the excessive number of tea leaves in the pot Kurama can tell the sake hit her harder than it seemed at first.
"The demons here are quite interesting," she says when it's time for a second cup.
"Agreed."
They think it over in silence, and then Kurama takes his leave. On his way out Kurama takes a moment to place a few seeds by their windows and front door and watches his little sentinels sprout. Some old habits are worth keeping, he thinks, as he takes to the roofs to run home.
Kurama floats for the next few days, gliding through his classes and then dinner with Kaito and Miyuki. They all get only a fraction of his attention. Exams are about to start and he outlines his notes and creates study guides, not because he needs them but because it's a simple task he finds reassuring while he thinking about things that are less so. He has decisions to make. Major, serious decisions that will affect everything. He chats with his mother on the phone about his semester, and then calls Yusuke to remind him to take care of her. Yusuke tells him to take care of Kuwabara and Kurama doesn't mention the dinner party.
Tuesday arrives.
Getting onto the roof is simple and it's a short jump down to the balcony he wants. The sliding glass door on the fifth floor balcony is locked, but there's a spider plant hanging inside. It hardly takes any effort at all to have the plant grow over and unlock the door for him. Kurama steps inside and has the plant close and lock the door behind him. He's pushing limits and taking a leap here. He can't be sure what will happen and that makes him feel alive.
Chouko's bedroom is large and sunny with windows on three sides giving views of the city. The fourth wall has a few doors in it, one out to a hallway, and two onto a walk-in closet. These lie open and Kurama can see the array of colors from all of Chouko's clothes. There isn't much in the way of furniture: a large bed with a bright green comforter, a long dresser, a few low cabinets, and an oversized chair next to a standing lamp. It looks like it's meant for reading but there are no books in sight. The walls, however, are covered. Everywhere that isn't a window is densely packed with all kinds of pictures, from photographs to paintings. They're so close together in many places that the frames are touching. Given her obsession with technology and her phone he shouldn't be surprised by the photos, but Kurama wouldn't want this many pairs of eyes watching him sleep.
There's a painting of a family in 18th century European clothing above the armchair and Kurama steps closer. The woman in the picture is blonde and buxom but has familiar brown eyes. The children in the painting have similar eyes but dark hair. Kurama's eyes travel sideways, caught by the black and white photograph beside the painting. It's the same blonde woman, with Chouko's eyes, standing in a group of people in Paris (he can tell by the base of the Eiffel Tower in the background). They're all laughing and she's waving a cigarette holder above everyone's heads, a familiar smile on a rounder face in a picture that looks like it was taken in the 1950s.
There's a sound from the hallway and Kurama jumps. He manages to get his expression under control by the time the door swings open.
"It wasn't a standing offer, Kurama," Chouko says from the doorway and crosses her arms.
He can't help a chuckle. "No, I didn't think it was. I didn't think it was an offer that would even last the night."
She scoffs and steps over the threshold but he can read the nervousness in her posture and the way she moves.
"Then might I ask why you're breaking into my bedroom this fine Tuesday morning?"
She's wearing jeans and a t-shirt and there's a smudge of dirt on her knee. It's the least formal he's seen her dress and he's curious about it.
"I'm testing what security you have in place. Apparently none."
Her eyes narrow but her face is just not made to be threatening.
"I don't need any security."
Kurama spreads his hands and Chouko glares and taps her foot in response.
"Most people aren't stupid enough to break in. In the twenty years I've lived here, in fact, you're the only person who's ever broken in."
"I'd like to put some of my plants on your balcony," he says. He's made a decision and now he's going to act on it.
Chouko's face would be hilarious to watch, if only the expressions were directed at someone else. She goes from perplexed, to horrified, to angry in under two seconds.
"That's absurd. Leave my house at once."
Kurama steps toward her, hoping he can explain before she really gets upset. She takes a step backwards, going fully into defensive mode. Kurama has to stop and remind himself that she needs room or she panics.
"Chouko, the fact that you have no measures in place to stop any demons from finding you or entering your house concerns me—as an ally. I'd like to help."
"No thanks," she says and storms into her closet.
Kurama almost follows, but then he hears the sound of a zipper and freezes. He can't quite believe that she's undressing in there while he's standing right there. Two steps to his right and he could see right into the closet. He hears fabric hit the floor and swallows. It seems she doesn't care.
"You're not putting any of your little monster plants on my roof, or my balcony, or in my house," Chouko says from the closet. "And if I find you've already planted some, we're going to have a very serious chat."
He hears something else hit the floor and assumes it's her shirt. Kurama closes his eyes and tries not to think about it.
"But I—"
"No. End of discussion. I'm perfectly capable of protecting my own house in my own way." There's a pause and Kurama keeps trying not to think about the fact that she's standing a few feet away in her underwear. "But I appreciate the offer, I guess. Or I would if it wasn't so terrifying."
"I only have the best intentions," Kurama says, opening his eyes and looking away from the closet doors. He tries to focus on the pictures on the wall and keeps seeing Chouko smiling and waving through the decades. There's one of her and Jiro, clearly from the 1980s based on the hair, at the top of the Tokyo Tower with two surly-looking kids between them.
The sound of a perfume bottle breaks the following silence and then the smell of tangerines floods the room.
"Why tangerines?" Kurama asks, hoping a change of topic will make her less angry.
"I love the smell," she replies, finally sounding less annoyed. "I'd roll in them if I could, but that's too sticky."
It sort of sounds like she tried it. Kurama bites back a comment and sweeps the room again, more carefully, looking for anything she may be hiding. The sound of a different zipper makes him think she's putting clothes back on. It's a relief.
"Since you're here, you may as well save me a trip back into the store."
Chouko steps out of the closet in a grey sheath dress, sweeping her hair over her shoulder.
"Here," she says, turning her back to him, "hook me in." She taps the top of her zipper and he pulls his eyes away from the nape of her neck.
"Of course."
Kurama steps forward and finds a small hidden hook and eye latch at the top of the dress. His fingers brush her back as he connects the hook. He wishes he was helping her unhook it and hates himself for the thought.
She's taunting him.
It's working.
"Thanks." Chouko tosses her hair back over her shoulder and smiles at him. "Now get out."
"You're going to investigate the disappearance of the demon from Nerima. I'd like to come with you."
"No, I don't think that's a good idea."
She picks up a purse and selects a pair of shoes from one of the racks inside the closet then glances back at him expectantly. Kurama doesn't move. Chouko purses her lips at him but seems to come to a decision. Without another word she leaves the room. Kurama follows her into the hall and down a narrow staircase. He feels bad about walking through her house in street shoes, but she doesn't seem to notice.
"Nothing for almost a week and then you just walk in and expect to follow me around," Chouko says, headed for the front door.
"I was considering the situation."
The look she shoots him over her shoulder makes him think he's miscalculated with her again. She pauses to slip on the heels in the entranceway and then throws open the door.
"And what were you considering?"
Kurama steps through after her and trails Chouko to the elevator. It's not the easiest question to answer. Not when he doesn't know her and when she has certain human traits he doesn't always expect.
"I was considering how involved I'm getting in demon affairs here and how much risk that carries for the people I care about."
Chouko taps her lips and stares at the elevator ceiling as they glide toward the ground floor.
"Fair enough. And you decided it was worth the risk?"
He smiles slightly. "You could say I decided most of my friends are adept at protecting themselves. I also decided that you're not the kind of person to tolerate indirect attacks."
"We don't involve family or runners in our disagreements," Chouko says as the elevator dings and the doors slide open. "But you never know what someone who's trying to claw their way up the food-chain might do. Now I'm off. Perhaps this week you can try texting my like a normal person?"
"I'm coming with you, Chouko."
Chouko rolls her eyes and heads for the metro. Kurama follows her to the train station and onto the train. Chouko glares at him as they switch lines and he follows her again. She won't talk to him but he doesn't plan to give up.
Questions Kurama should have considered before breaking and entering:
1. What's on the second and third floors of Chouko's building?
2. What's in the basement?
3. Is it possible she's some sort of spider demon who eats her husbands?
Though, only the answers to 1 and 2 are likely to bother him.
Also, next chapter Hiei comes back for a bit.