A/N: What?! Another update so soon. IIIIII know! I do have to preface with this one being much shorter. But I think for now anyways this may be my compromise to updating more often. I hope you all agree this could work. I does hurt me a bit to see any word count under 8,000 but I digress.
Thank you so much to blythelynel and Katsip12 for the reviews! It really means a lot.
I hope you all enjoy.
lots of love
~Red
I think you hide
When all the world's asleep and tired
You cry a little, so do I, so do I
I think you hide
And you don't have to tell me why
You cry a little, so do I, so do I
Tell me I will be released
Not sure I can deal with this
Up all night again this week
Breaking things that I should keep
I know that you're hiding
I know there's a part of you that I just cannot reach
You don't have to let me in
Just know that I'm still here
I'm ready for you whenever, whenever you need
Whenever you want to begin
I know you've tried
But something stops you every time
You cry a little, so do I, so do I
And it's your pride
That's keeping us still so far apart
But if you give a little, so will I, so will I
Tell me I will be released
Not sure I can deal with this
Up all night again this week
Breaking things that I should keep
I know that you're hiding
I know there's a part of you that I just cannot reach
You don't have to let me in
Just now that I'm still here
I'm ready for you whenever, whenever you need
Whenever you want to begin
I know I seem shaky
these hands not fit for holding
I know I seem shaky
These hands not fit for holding
But if you let me, oh
I will see you around
-Hiding by Florence and the Machine
A week later Maika watched as everyone settled into their new spots. They were on high alert, as Enma had warned them that any unusually high demon violence could risk their entire operation. Maika had this feeling...this feeling that things were going to go down fast. Her suspicions although currently unfounded, were currently also unspoken. For the moment she voiced her opinion things could certainly go bad quick. She couldn't go around making accusations without proof. Yet she was sure that this 'lull' in opposition and the ease that Enma was giving them…
Something was off, the other shoe would drop. Until then she needed to gather information. Turning around she took to the rooftops. They were currently in the outskirts of Tokyo. While those deported under the new law went back to their families and jobs. The rest that would compromise the new police force and law systems were moving into the large dorm building they had found. There was something in the air though... something that told her to watch out for danger...or should she say sabotage. The winds whipped her hair around, running into her lungs with cleansing spring coolness. She narrowed her eyes and fanned out her senses. Letting them go out five kilometers, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty… she felt them flee making her go on the move. On the hunt. The bastards were slick and fast. Knowing to avoid her but they wouldn't be able to avoid her forever. She closed in sure that she was getting to one of them when her phone rang. She stopped. Picking up and listening to Jay let her know they had their first case. Three days in and unsurprisingly the first case of violence but who was it. Friend or foe? From Jay's calculation, the Akino's corporation's first strike. As they had all suspected the demon organization opposing them would use senseless violence to show their plans were ineffectual. All this would mean is that they would need to respond in two ways. Find the person responsible and hold them accountable. And beef up their on the ground surveillance.
She scoffed realizing her spy had run away and instead changed her course. She'd oversee the first investigation of demon on human crime. Seeing how this was the first occurence to prove their training was worth something. They'd better not mess things up. She needed to find this Akino corporation now and shut them down. She wasn't about to let them ruin everything. Not after all she had given up. She had enough.
She tried to steer her thoughts in a different direction. She had made peace with her decisions. She had done all she could. She had laid her cards out on the table. Told him all she felt, what she wanted. His silence was answer enough. It had been a week and he hadn't called. So now...now was the time to move forward. She had other things to focus on.
Kurama shook hands with Henzoni feeling one step closer to the true freedom he was seeking, "it's been a pleasure doing business with you, Henzoni-san."
The older man smiled back, "one of these days Minamino you'll have to explain to me why you chose this. Not that I'm complaining, your company will make my empire even bigger than it already is. But to let go of such success at such a young age is peculiar. Now that the deal is over I can truly tell you how curious I am about all this."
"Perhaps I've just realized that this life is not the one I wish to lead," the redhead responded with an upward quirk of his lips, "there are some things that I cherish more."
It made the older man laugh as he gave him a firm pat on the back, "you sound way older than you are. I hope your new ventures are prosperous for you."
With thanks the fox demon made his way out the door. Completely ignoring his former secretary's forlorn look. He did not care for her fake display of emotion. Now with the money he had secured from selling his corporation he was one step closer to living his truest life. He took out his cellphone looking down at the many contacts in it and hesitating. In all honesty was the easiest thing he had to do. He had already been planning of selling his business when he had moved to the suburbs. He just never had a real push to give it up. Not until he realized he'd rather spend his time elsewhere. The flower shop was now mostly self sufficient. It was fully staffed and upheld by himself and two employees. But even that was not what finally pushed him. He stared at her name. Wishing she'd call but knowing she wouldn't. She had placed the ball in his court. He simply couldn't call her until he had taken care of everything. Until he had done everything he should have when she first left. He sighed taking care of things one level of difficulty at a time. The late spring morning was crisp yet hinting at the warmth to come from the rising sun. Giving him hope for change. He felt her energy stopping in his tracks before looking up. His eyes tracking her running high above in the sky line. Her chestnut hair shone in the line as she moved faster than human eyes to perceive. He was sure wherever she was going it was important. She was moving with purpose. He only wished he could tell her she wouldn't be alone much longer. And he would...once he took care of a few more things. No matter how hard it maybe.
As he walked through the coffee shop door his eyes found hers right away. Guilt replaced all other feelings as he walked towards Maya. He had yet to talk to her after their fight. After that night… what he had done was wrong. Even if they'd never promised to be exclusive. It was never fun breaking hearts...he was about to do just that.
Maya stood as he approached her. Handing him a cup of hot coffee with a nervous smile, "I'm so glad you called."
He cleared his throat taking a seat and ignoring the way she leaned in for a kiss, "when do you have to be back in class?"
The disappointment in her eyes was there was only about to get worse, "the kids are on a field trip today with the gym class. I took the day to catch up on stuff so no rush."
He nodded taking a sip of the coffee she had gotten him. The silence was tense as he tried to think of the best way to start, "Maya…I called you because we need to talk about us. I'm sorry but I-"
"Stop," she asked her hands gripping her mug tightly, "your light was on that night...the night we fought. I thought I saw some shadows moving around which is why I texted you. I thought maybe you were having trouble sleeping. So I waited and hoped...then I saw her. Leaving your apartment. You slept with her."
Kurama blinked surprised, "yes."
"You love her. She broke your heart and I came to town. So you used me to get over her," she continued.
He cleared his throat, "I'm sorry."
Maya looked up and for the first time he saw fire in her eyes. Not the shell of a girl that went out of her way to please him, "are you?"
"I am," he replied, "I shouldn't have led you on while I still had feelings for her. Even if she never lets me back into her life. I will probably never get over her."
He watched her fight tears as she nodded looking down into her hot cup, "so...you want to break up. Or I guess just end whatever the hell this is. I guess it was partly my fault. I saw it but I didn't want to believe it...either way." She stood her eyes narrowing at him as she threw a hot cup of coffee on his face, "I don't forgive you. You...Shuichi Minamino, are a heartless jerk."
He sat there a bit stunned as she walked away. Not at all expecting things to go the way they just had. He sighed grabbing some napkins and wiping himself off the best he could. Aware of the eyes staring at him. Well he supposed he had earned the embarrassment, maybe it wasn't even enough to atone for the way he had hurt Maya. As quickly as he could he made his way back out into the streets. Only one more thing was left to do...but it was probably the hardest one yet. He picked up the phone this time dialing his mother's phone. His hands shook in earnest. Doubt plaguing his every fiber, "mother...yes, I am well...how are you? Good, I was wondering if we could get together for dinner this week...just the two of us...yes...Friday sounds great."
His world was changing. As much as it scared him, all he had to do was think of her saying those three words. His world was changing, just as it should.
Maika sat with Yusuke looking over a map. The rash of attacks was clear, they had several people locked up. Yet the culprit...the culprit behind the attacks was still at large. Need to know only was the motto of the Akino corporation. They met their underlings, paid them for services, or simply released baser level demons to wreak havoc on human world. Leaving nothing in their auras other than a mysterious boss. One that had no face or name. The only name they had found so far was of Yatsude, a medium level boss. One that she was actively searching for without any fruitful efforts. It was irritating. She was now looking a full rash of incidents trying to find where these demons were coming from. Twenty deaths, five demon and fifteen human had already happened. All only two weeks into the lift on the travel ban to human world. The timing was not very surprising to Maika. She knew that this could happen. Not to mention all the human psychic violence they were receiving from some of the locals that were not on the same page. There were those that still believed demons did not belong here. The only difference was that the police force had been able to intervene in those attacks. They were for the most part easier to catch…it was the Akino corporation that was causing all the trouble and giving her a headache.
"It has to be a portal demon," Yusuke said scratching his head, "we have people patrolling the areas where people can cross over. And people patrolling the streets, sure they may miss one person here or there but not this many."
She nodded adding another red pin at the site of the most recent attacks, "yes. Plus these accidents are happening with no tracking in demonic energy. Jay describes it as if they were just dropped off at the point of the attacks. A portal opens lets them out, they attack, and then we find them. But why would they want us to find them?"
"To show Enma that we can't control these rouge demons," Kuwabara added sitting back on a stool. The carrot top had come in to help after the violent attacks kept increasing.
Maika sighed. Chewing on her nail, "yeah, the bastard is pissed too. Koenma is trying to hold him off from calling this too soon. He knows we won't get shut down without a fight but he believes in us. We need to find the Akino Corporation and shut it down."
"What has Yomi found out in demon world?" Yusuke asked looking over at Touya.
The ice demon shook his head, "not much. People don't want to talk. We are starting to think maybe we need to look outside of demon world. They may be stationed somewhere remotely in human world."
Maika sighed running a hand through her hair, "then lets widen our search. I'll start looking in these areas tomorrow. Yusuke you take these districts, Kuwabara the wooded forest over in the west. I'll call Jay and have him search the building and shipping yards. They have to be hiding somewhere. We will find them."
Everyone nodded. Solemnly thinking the same thing. They needed to work fast. Silently they went their separate ways in the cool of the night. Maika was in no rush to return to Jay's apartment. She had yet to find one of her own here in the city and was contemplating selling her dojo to Master Sanosuke's apprentice. Now that she could no longer run the classes herself it just seemed superfluous to keep it. Besides...she couldn't return to living there. Her life would consist of being the commissioner of police on behalf of nigenkai for the foreseeable future. They still needed to officially appoint someone on the demon world side, but Enki had said he had a candidate in mind so she left it to him. Koenma had happily appointed Rinbai, a sensible choice, the former SDF man was always the most sensible to Maika. He was currently investigating areas in Spirit World where the Akino Corporation could possibly hide. They were all invested in this. And for the meantime Touya sat as interim commissioner. Although he had made it clear he did not want the title. She could hardly blame him, the amount of responsibility was high. Touya wanted to be part of the detective department instead. Where he'd make a sensible fit.
Still… she wondered what was taking Enki so long. They needed to finalize everything sooner rather than later, especially if they had to eventually fight Enma. They all knew this peace treaty was option A. They wanted to show Spirit World that they could be reasonable. And if not...well then they were not above showing their force and demanding equality. No matter what cost that may come by. She wasn't scared. Not of that tyrant. Plan B would consist of an overthrow of Spirit World hierarchy and demand for a full change of power. Koenma had shown he would be a much more sensible leader. He would either need to align with them or join his father against them...she had a feeling which way things would go. She just needed more proof. Proof that her gut was right. When her phone rang she was sure it was just Jay checking up on her. Only she didn't really realize she could be so wrong. Her heart slowed as one of her biggest worries came to life. She'd never forget that thursday night or the way that Jay's voice shook.
"Maika, come fast...its Shiori," Jay's voice came through the phone.
She had never run faster. Never felt her blood run more cold. As she arrived at the small hospital room she stopped at the door. Watching as Jay stood next to the small woman. Amaya, one of their human psychics healing her. She stepped forward slowly feeling her heart in her throat. Tears in her eyes. She turned to Jay whom gave her a small smile.
"She's going to be okay," he said but he wasn't looking at her anymore. Maika felt herself freeze as she felt his cool aura behind her. She could feel his anger even now.
"What happened?" he said. His voice guarded as he walked in the room. Not looking at her.
Jay stood cautiously eyeing the two, "a portal opened two demons came out before her body guards could act. Maika has stationed two to follow her from afar since she didn't know. If not for the she might not be here...but Amaya is a great healer."
The young girl stood nodding her head, "she should wake up soon."
Maika nodded busy looking at Shiori's lifemap. The images ingrained in her brain, the portal opening the background image somewhat clear. She started putting some of the puzzle pieces together. Only… she couldn't really think while he was in the room.
"They can go into more detail but for now we'll leave you two. We'll be in the hall if you need us," Jay continued before quietly walking out.
Maika stood there her eyes going to Kurama as he walked to Shiori's bedside. Her aura evenly weaving its colorful yellow aura. She would be fine, spooked but fine. His eyes were hard as he grabbed her hand, "you warned me that this would happen."
She didn't know what to say her heart pounding in her chest, "I know. I'm sorry."
"I didn't want to listen to you," he continued, "it was naive of me."
She stepped closer only to stop when those green eyes looked up at her. He was furious, "I should have never put her in danger."
She stood there her arms shaking at the amount of anger permeating the room. Kuram was angry, and hurt, and scared. His lifemap so vivid she could feel like as if the emotions were her own. It was hard to separate the two to see past his initial response to the core of his aura. The emotions so overwhelming, "Kurama...she's going to be okay. We can protect her better. She'll have questions I can explain to her what happened."
"No, you are not going to explain anything to her. This is your fault," he hissed no longer looking at her but down at his sleeping mother, "just go."
His voice broke almost tearing her heart in two. She could barely breathe as she stood there unsure of what to say. She needed to do something. She needed to fix this...if she lost him..."Kurama…" she began.
He turned to her eyes flashing, "leave."
Maika stopped. Turning around and leaving. Ignoring the searing pain in her chest, or the tears that wanted to escape her eyes. She didn't want to think about the fall out from the very situation she was in. Instead she chose to focus on something else. Maika searched for Jay finding him with Amaya and the two bodyguards who were with Shiori when the incident happened. She flared her energy reading their lifemaps in seconds. Knowing enough, putting the puzzle together. Flaring her energy again and finding the not so sneaky spy again. Forty measly kilometers away. She picked up speed ignoring Jay's concerned voice. Ignoring the feelings raging in her chest. She was going to find that person and they were going to pay.
Kurama sat down fighting back so many different emotions. His face in his hands they were shaking as he tried to take deep cleansing breaths. The moment he had seen his mother lying on the hospital bed he had lost all reason. Yet… he knew he should have handled things better. What was wrong with him? What was it about the women he loved that made him lose all reason.
"Son...what do you think you're doing?" Shiori's voice pierced the quiet room.
Kurama's head snapped up meeting his mother's eyes. There was a small frown on her face as she reached out and grabbed his hand, "Why do you keep pushing her away like that? Why do you keep using me as a reason for you to be alone? To keep me from finding out what I already know."
His heart stopped as he straightened, "mother. What are you talking about?"
She sighed squeezing his hand, "you have always walked around on eggshells around me when it came to your friends. And for the most part I let it be, because you seemed content. Then you met Maika...and she made you come alive. I saw you truly happy and vibrant."
"Mother-" he began only to get cut off by a sharp look from her.
"If you dare tell me you are happy with that other girl I will be furious, Shuichi. She seems nice enough, and I know she probably is much simpler...but she's not right for you. When I met Maika I could see she was different, she was like you," she continued softening as she went.
Kurama held his breath, "mother. What do you mean?"
She gave him a small smile, "I know that you are a demon, son. I've known for a long time. I'm not as oblivious as you think."
He blinked flabbergasted, "but…"
"But the blood and the stories that didn't add up eventually came together," she continued with a small sly smile, "oh, and that silly memory powder, Shuichi. It stops working after its used too often. I really should be mad about that but I knew you were just trying to keep me safe."
Kurama sat back running a hand over his face. Unsure of what to say next. Suddenly everything he thought he knew was falling apart, "why didn't you tell me?"
She laughed as if he was being silly, "I think I should be asking that question. Shuichi...I thought it was obvious that I love you regardless of how you are the way you are. No matter what, even if you never tell me the whole truth. I am your mother. I love you, and accept you for who you are. But I refuse to sit here and watch you throw your happiness away because you think you are saving me. No matter how noble it may be."
He blinked not realizing that tears were running down his eyes...how could he have been so blind? His whole life people had always looked up to him for being intelligent, but lately he felt anything but. Here he was making his decisions based on his mother's ignorance when she had known all along. She didn't even know his entire story and chose to accept him still. Kurama shook his head deciding to let all the lies in his life fall at that very moment and began his story. He owed her that much. When he finished his story his beautiful mother watched him with wide eyes. Not with disgust or fear but with awe.
"I've always known you were special. I just never realized just how much," she smile, "I hope you know now that you can always talk to me. About anything."
He smiled back squeezing her hand, "I do mother, than you." He certainly didn't deserve her. Another reoccurring theme is his life.
"I talked to the two men that rescued me before I blacked out. They told me that Maika is helping demons live here peacefully. That there are alot of families where both races live happily. Like us," she said carefully bringing Maika back up.
He nodded, "that's right."
"She was keeping them close to me without me knowing. She was protecting me. They said that those people that don't want change may want to hurt me," she continued.
Kurama stilled, "wait...she knew…."
For the first time in his life. His mother smacked his arm, "and I told her not to tell you. Don't you dare make her feel bad about it. I'm sure there is a way we can all keep safe while this whole thing settles. You need to fix things Shuichi."
Kurama didn't know what to say. How could he take back everything…
"You love her right?" his mother asked without him asking the questions he needed to know. When he nodded she simply smiled, "then that's all that matters son. Make things right. She'll understand. Now stop sitting here wasting time with me and go after the girl!"
Blood dripped off her hands as she found the first warehouse full of demons from the Akino Corporation. Demons cowered in fear as her eyes glowed a deep purple her energy flaring in flakes of gold. Illuminating the room and filling it with its eerie glow. She was power. She was here to end them all. Little did they know that her eyes were finding things they could not fathom. Like where their next hideout was or who to find when she got there...it was going to be along difficult night. One that none of them would soon forget.