Just what on earth was he dreaming about? Not that Kurama was complaining much. No, there was a sense of nostalgia here, running through the bamboo forests, being chased by guards, white clad comrades running beside him, a long-sought treasure rested in his clutches.
The smell of the earth as it was crushed underfoot. The wind brushing his face. The sensations felt almost real.
But why?
Why was he dreaming about this? Now of all times?
There wasn't time to question it as one scene changed from another. In a flash, he was somewhere else.
The smell of green bamboo gave way to damp earth and something metallic. Torches lined cave walls. Shadows flickered from one end to another as they returning party of bandits climbed down the steep hill, heading deep into the mouth of a monstrous cavern. Water dripped from the ceiling and splashed into tiny puddles on the cave floor. Stolen treasures jingled and clinked in overstuffed bags nearly filled to the brim.
"Kurama!" Kuronue appeared out of the darkness, giant black wings unfurled.
"May I help you?"
Kuronue chuckled, finding something funny in what he said.
"Your woman is asking for you. She's waiting for you...in your chambers."
Some of them men behind Kurama chuckled and at least one of the women rolled their eyes, if their poorly disguised jealous and disgust was any indication. Kurama tucked his own prize into his pocket.
"Help the others stash the goods in the vault. You and I can count it up later."
Kurama traveled deeper into the cave, down the earthen tunnel that led to the most secluded cavern within the subterranean hideout. It was for his own personal use, though to be honest it rarely saw much of it. He spent so much of his time in inns or sleeping in the trees, hiding from bounty hunters. He was calm, stoic; he couldn't let his excitement show.
A gauzy silver curtain blocked his way; one of her designs. Kurama pushed it back and entered his domain. The cavern was unusually bright and warm thanks to the tall candles burning from every notch someone could find. Grayish wax dripped everywhere and here the shadows didn't just flicker, they danced as the glowing tips of the candles spurted to and fro in the air moving throughout the system of tunnels. Kurama's chambers, contrary to popular belief, were not dripping in decadence and wealth. His furniture was nice but sparse. A table over here, a vanity on the side, a mountain of silk pillows for lounging over there. But what most interested him was what lay behind the painted silk screen. Golden candles illuminated the perfect silhouette of a womanly figure laying on top of his futon. Kurama crept around the silk screen.
Silky white hair hid her face. She lay partially on her stomach, partially on her side. One of her arms was curled up around her stomach, like she was protecting something. Her eyes were closed, but he knew that there was no way she was asleep.
"How is my treasure doing?"
Bright blue eyes greeted him. Her cheeks flushed as soon as she awakened. She slowly moved her arm away from her middle. In her hand, a awe-inspiring set of sparkling diamonds lay in the palm of her hands though she didn't seem all that interested in them. Her eyes hadn't even glanced at the glistening jewels in her hands.
"They're doing just fine. Thank you for asking."
Kurama kicked off his shoes and padded towards the futon mattress. He landed with a soft thud next to the woman, knees landing first. The closeness brought a deeper shade of red to the woman's face. Kurama grabbed the set of jewels from her hands and tossed them aside as if they suddenly lost their value. His arms snaked around her firm waist. Pulling her close, he nuzzled her neck, making her gasp in surprise which was closely followed by a sigh.
"I wasn't talking to the diamonds," he murmured. The feel of her chilled flesh gave him goosebumps, in a good way. "If I wanted to speak to the chunks of rock, I would."
"K-Kurama..."The woman gasped. Her cheeks were fully red by now.
"Yes," he was practically purring. He could feel her blood racing in the veins in her throat as he pecked along the sides of her neck with only delicate kisses.
"M-maybe you should rest a little before you do anything to wear you out? You just got back from a raid. You should lay down...I'm just saying."
"I will. But first."
Even if she was a dragon, it really was too easy to catch her off guard and overpower her. He barely pushed her into the mattress. The cutest, most vulnerable-sounding squeak escaped from her pretty pink lips and her eyes were shining with liquid fear and anticipation. Her cheeks couldn't get any redder, but her deep blush spread down to her neck and the top of her chest. Her white hair was splayed around her head like a halo. Kurama continued to sit on his knees to enjoy the view. Her pale blue tunic was partially opened at the very top, revealing a bare minimum glimpse of her soft, white and irresistible flesh. She looked good enough to eat, however the weight in his pocket caught his attention. He reached inside, producing a string of pearls.
"I believe last time...you said you preferred pearls over anything else. These weren't the target, but I couldn't help imagining them around your neck."
The black pupils of her eyes slit like a serpent's. Her pale hand reached forward to take them from him, but Kurama was fast enough to pull them away from her grasp. She couldn't sit up to make a grab for the pearl necklace.
"I went through a lot of trouble to get these. I should demand a reward for getting these for you."
She groaned.
"What do you want?"
Kurama looked down. His toothy grin was all that she needed to see to know what he wanted. His eyes were glued to her pouting lips.
"I think...a kiss will do nicely."
Before she could resist, Kurama planted his lips firmly over hers, running his tongue along her lower lip until she hesitantly offered passage.
The real Kurama snapped out of his slumber, sitting upright in bed. The seven A.M alarm going off int the distance. He rubbed his face.
"Where on earth did that come from?" Kurama wondered out loud.
He went through the same morning routine as he always did, all the while trying to distract himself from his amorous dream. Perhaps his old self hadn't died away completely? Making a cup of decaf coffee for himself, Kurama glanced at the calendar. A red circle marked the date. The time went fast. Six months were gone in the blink of an eye. Yui would be making her return trip home right about now, wouldn't she? While he would be at school, anxiously awaiting her arrival, she would be tying up loose ends before journeying home. He had been hiding a stack of her letters, unsure if anyone else received any. It would be better to keep it his own little secret.
He had hoped that today would be just a normal day until Yui's arrival. Nothing to worry about, nothing to make Yui worried about when she finally came home after such an arduous six-month long experience.
What he failed to take in account was the Kagami family curse. He really should have known better.
"We're being followed." Mao said suddenly on their way to the bus stop.
Kurama indeed felt it too. Mao's spiritual awareness took everybody for a surprise. They all had thought that the human blood inside of her was the more dominant trait. Apparently, that was not the case as her awareness became stronger and stronger than before. Had she been training? If she was, there was no way she would tell somebody, anybody. In that, she and her sister shared something else in common. Kurama gave a quick glance over his shoulder. The demons following them were wearing pretty decent disguises, but not good enough. They should have also tried hiding their energy a bit better.
"What do you want to do?" She asked. Kurama could hear her heartbeat quickening. He had to come up with an escape plan fast lest their stalkers get too close and all too comfortable.
"I have an idea." He grabbed her wrist and started running.
They might have lost them in the crowd for a moment, but it was entirely too brief. Kurama dragged himself and Mao into the park, where nobody could find them. No human that is. Three brutes emerged from the shadows, disregarding their human forms now that they were hidden by the dense little woods surrounding them.
"Stay behind me, Mao." Kurama whispered.
"Can I assume that you know why we're here?" The female with the trio stepped forward, shedding her disguise like snake skin. Her real skin was paler than Yui's, but she had a pair of violent amethyst stones for her eyes. She had claws and fangs and a scrunched up pixie-like nose that whistled when exhaled through them.
Her compatriots weren't that much better. The large one was made of solid muscles and had a thick black mane of horse hair in a ponytail. His talons were sharpened and yellow as old parchment. The shorter fellow, a stringy little man with a thick layer of oil running along the surface of his pale bluish complexion. His elven ears twitched every time the leaves would rustle in the trees. A low-hanging cow tail lazily swung down his back.
"Almost. Does this have anything to do with Mao?"
The female nodded.
"I'm Michiko. My friends, Hachiru and Masaru," she gestured to the tall one then the short one. "We would be ever so grateful if you would mind stepping out of the way, fox boy, and let us have the girl."
Kurama reached his arm back to push Mao further out of harm's way.
"For what purpose?"
"For ransom, of course! What else would we want the sister of Northern Dragons' heir? That other girl would pay anything to see that her sister is safe, wouldn't she?" Michiko snickered.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
"Oh come on, Kurama, don't be such a push over for these weaklings. Just let us borrow the girl for a little while and she'll be back home safe before you know it."
Kurama's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. His other hand reached into his hair, retrieving his weapon of choice: a rose.
Hachiru and Masaru took a cautious step back. They heard what Kurama's rose did to one of the four Saint Beasts way back when. It was deadly as it was beautiful. Michiko, on the other hand, sneered at Kurama's defiance and at her subordinate's cowardice, especially Hachiru's. Someone his size couldn't possibly be intimidated by a man with a flower.
"Get a hold of yourselves. He can't be that strong. There's only one of him and two of you. Stop being a couple of pansies and grab the girl. Or do I have to do that for you too?"
"You won't be taking anyone." With a flick of his wrist, scarlet petals scattered around them, engulfing the area with sweet perfume, and the stem extended to unnatural length and the thorns to deadly tips.
"He killed one of the Four Saint Beasts with that thing. It's almost suicide." Masaru quivered.
Michiko grabbed the back of coat and shoved him forward.
"Almost isn't the same thing as actual suicide. Do your kind proud then and kill him! It honestly shouldn't be that difficult."
"And what about the other sister?" Hachiru stepped forward, hesitant but at least he showed more initiative than his partner.
"Like it would be so difficult to get the money from her." Michiko snickered.
"My sister won't stand for this you know. When she finds out, oh, man you three are going to be in a world of hurt!" Mao gripped Kurama's shoulder.
"Mao, enough. This isn't the time for banter."
"I would listen to him little girl," Michiko snickered again. "And it's not like your sister can do anything. She's got a temper which makes her stronger, but so what? That doesn't make her anything special. From what I hear, she's just a scrawny little brat way over her head. Not much to be scared of."
They were all nearly blown off their feet by a gust of mighty wind like a miniature storm. The blast held icy daggers that could cut through the thickest flesh. Flurries of snow blinded them. Mao clung to Kurama for warmth and he held her steady by her waist.
"What the he—" Michiko was silenced by the presence of three more demons.
"Yui!" Mao ran towards the figure emerging out of the small snow storm.
Yui appeared like the Snow Queen bedecked in layers upon layers of silk and a fur-trimmed yukata hanging off her shoulders. The top layer of her hair was twisted into two braids on either side of her head with the rest pulled into a ponytail with the braided sections. Her hair had grown longer and her skin was ruddier than before. Mao wrapped her arms around Yui's waist only to find that she must have shrunk or Yui grew taller. Yui smiled, and wrapped her arms around Mao, pulling her sister extra close.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner."
"Again! What the hell! Who are you?" Michiko panicked.
Yui slowly released Mao and pushed her aside.
"Wakana, could you hold my yukata for me?" Yui shifted the article off of her shoulders.
"It would be my pleasure, Yuki-Hime." The demon on Yui's right graciously took the yukata from Yui's shoulders and folded it over her forearm for safe keeping.
"Would you like some assistance?" The one of Yui's right offered.
"That won't be necessary. I think I can handle this on my own."
"Very well."
Masaru was the first to make a run for it, Hachiru was next to follow suit. Michiko shouted and screamed after them, not knowing why they decided to run of all times.
"Get back here you cowards!" She slowly turned to find Yui approaching her. "And just who do you think you are? Walking around like you own the place? Did that dumb brat send you?"
"I am that dumb brat."
Michiko gulped. The women behind Yui snickered.
"Tch, tch," Yui clicked her tongue. "It's so hard to find good help these days, isn't it? Not all of them can be as loyal as others."
"Y-you're just trying to intimidate me. It won't work."
"Oh," Yui's brow shot upward, unbelieving. "I believe I already have. That dumb little brat you were mentioning earlier just finished six months of training in the Land of Eternal Winter. Do you have any idea what that means?"
"N-no?" Though she was shaking, Michiko stood her ground. She wouldn't run like those cowardly fools she hired. She wouldn't be scared off by some kid who thought that they owned the world because they were a dragon.
"I've spent the last six months sparring in the snow, practicing with various weapons until arms and legs gave out, eating frozen meat for almost every meal, trying to please my indifferent uncle, sitting through endless hours of tutors prattling on about political science and diplomacy, and did I mention eating the raw fish? Countless meals of raw, half-frozen fish. .day."
"But fish is meat. You said that twice already." Quipped Michiko.
"Fish isn't meat." With a flick of her wrist, Yui opened a paper fan, painted with a winter mountain range and the folds were tipped with sharpened spikes.
"Over-heated already, Your Highness!" Michiko made the mistake of laughing.
With one powerful thrust of her arm, wild wind and ice flew from her fan. Michiko was so busy laughing and holding her gut that she had not seen the attack coming. The wind knocked her right off her feet. She flew several feet backwards before a tree stopped her mid-flight. Icicles formed around her ankles. They grew and grew and grew until all but Michiko's neck was encased in an icy coffin. Yui withdrew her fan and her storm once she was satisfied with the results. Michiko wriggled her neck from side to side as if that would help her escape. Yui calmly, quietly, walked over to the tree to which she trapped her there. Her cold hand sent goosebumps down the side of Michiko's neck as she grabbed the other woman's' chin so that Michiko couldn't look away.
"In any other circumstance, I would have killed you for attempting anything against my sister. So, let this be your only warning. If I catch you near my sister again, or anyone that I care about, you'll be facing me, and I can assure you that I won't be so merciful next time. Understood?"
Michiko vigorously nodded her head. Tears ruining her mascara stained her pale cheeks.
Yui snapped her fingers and the ice prison shattered into chunks all over the ground at their feet. Michiko wasted no time scurrying into the dark forest.
"Whoa." Mao whispered.
Kurama was in equal awe of Yui's change. She walked with a certain air of authority and nobility that couldn't be ignored. Her hair even flowed with a certain grace. She made not a step that was not purposeful and without the power she exuded. It was breathtaking just watching her walk towards the dragons she brought with her. Wakana placed the yukata back onto Yui's shoulders while the other fixed the flyaway that had been loosened when Yui commanded her attack against such a weak demon. It seemed like she had been wrapped in beauty like a silk garment.
"Oh my gosh!" Yui exclaimed, cramming more rice into her stuffed cheeks. "I never thought I could miss sticky rice so much!"
"Um, Yui, you got a little somethin'." Yusuke tapped the corner of his mouth.
Yui glanced up to look at his gesture, blushed, and immediately grabbed a napkin to wipe her face.
"If you keep eating like that, you're going to give yourself a stomach ache."
"I know, but I haven't eaten decent food in six months." Yui finished chewing. "Somebody hand me the sweet and sour shrimp."
Yusuke handed over the platter of deep-fried shrimp coat in the red-orange sauce.
"You know this is meat right? What about your vegetarian diet?"
"I'm afraid that ship has sailed." She grabbed a couple pieces from the plate and plopped them down unto her own. "It's rather difficult to be a vegetarian dragon. Those two word don't exactly go together. 'Vegetarian dragon' doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of your enemies."
"And, uh, those two you brought along with you?" Yusuke pointed towards the dimly shadowed figures sitting on the porch through the open door.
"Oh, Miu and Wakana. They're sort of my bodyguards. For the time being."
Wakana slipped inside with her empty tea cup. She quietly poured herself another cup and waited for the tea to steep.
"Lord Akio thought it best considering the family history. And since Lord Izo isn't here, he thought it best given the situation and Miu and I may observe the situation for the next few months. Besides, Yuki-Hime may need time to adjust to her new abilities and strength. It was better than sending her home by herself."
"'Yuki-Hime,'" Yusuke took a swig of his drink. "Why do you keep calling her that?"
"It's just a formal title. It means 'Snow Princess,' but basically they keep calling me 'Your Highness.'"
"Just don't let it go to your head, Highness." Yusuke chuckled.
"When have I ever let something go to my head?" Yui laughed back.
Kuwabara returned from his restroom break to find at least half the food lay on Yui's plate. He started to complain, but was quickly silenced by a sharp glare from Wakana. He shivered like a spider crawled down his spine. He quietly sat back down again and looked around the room. There was an empty spot next to him.
"Where's Kurama?" Kuwabara finally pointed out the fact that somebody was missing from the party.
"Send somethin' about going for a walk." Yusuke answered.
It was easy for Kurama to excuse himself for only a little while. He had gotten his message earlier in the day, just before school started in the morning. Hiei looked on edge, like he was itching for a fight. There were only a few brief words in his message, but that was Hiei for you. Kurama excused himself and ducked out soon enough to meet him at the designated spot in the woods. He further and further away from the well-lit dining room and ventured ever closer to the dark woods. It wasn't the near darkness that frightened him, it was Hiei's habit of causing trouble that gave him cause to worry. Hiei appeared more disgruntled than usual this morning. And Kurama was about to find out why.
Hiei stood beneath the shade of a large tree. Slivers of moonlight broke through the thickets of pine needles and cast over Hiei an ominous glow. Kurama was too cautious to be too forward. Whatever it was that Hiei wanted, Kurama could not make a sign or give cause for a alarm. This conversation was to be handled calmly, rationally, and in a mature manner.
"Hiei." He greeted.
"Kurama."
"If you've come to deride me further about my feelings towards Yui then you know should that my patience has grown thin. I respect you as a friend, but I cannot abide by your offending opinions against her. She has done nothing to you and she certainly wouldn't plan to do so either."
"If you insist on following through with those feelings of yours," Hiei seethed, "Then I cannot object. It's your life. It's your choice."
"Then what do you want, Hiei?"
"I just spent the last four months collecting information from the Demon World. Rumors have already started to trickle their way down south from her father's country of origin. I just thought you ought to know."
"What kind of rumors?" Kurama was almost too afraid to ask.
"I heard it along the grapevine that there's a reason to believe that she could be S-class. Or at least much more powerful than anybody could have thought. Given how weak she was to begin with, that couldn't be that much."
"But that can't be possible. You've seen her. There's nothing in her spirit energy to suggest that she's S-class."
"I know. However, there's no certainty that she is. They are just rumors after all."
The trees rustled around them. A heavy thickness lay in the air, something dark and tangible. The trees didn't tremble just because of the wind, but also because of something more sinister in the air.
"Thank you for warning me, Hiei. I will take that into consideration." Kurama turned on him, started to head back and return to the party.
"That isn't all you have to worry about."
Kurama paused.
"You won't be the only vying for her hand. She's the heir presumptive to a huge piece of land, power, and wealth. Don't you think that others will follow suit, when they hear about just how much she's worth? If you wish to have her for your own, I suggest that you get on it."
Hiei flitted out of sight. Only the vague imprint of his feet in the grass was left behind. Kurama was a little unsettled, to say the least, when he finally returned. He put on his bravest face and ignored the thoughts running through his head. Yui smiled at him with a dot of sweet and sour sauce on her lip. She licked it clean, probably in hopes that he didn't see it. He discreetly checked her aura. There was no trace of the supposed power Hiei said she contained. But why should he believe rumors? They were just that, rumors. To be honest, he was more concerned about the other thing Hiei said. Suitors? It wasn't that Yui wasn't attractive enough to have any, quite the opposite actually. She was pretty, intelligent, level-headed (most of the time), and unbelievably stronger than she used be. She made herself that way, not because she wanted to impress anybody, only to improve herself. That was one of her best features. Fixing herself for her own sake and not someone else's. It was a trait Kurama found both remarkable and refreshing. So many girls he heard about changed themselves for their parents or boyfriends. Yui was never like any of them. Losing her was what he feared most. Losing her to someone else gave him the second greatest pain he had felt, second only to some tragedy to happen to his human mother. To the rest, he was just being his usual quiet self. They wouldn't know about the inner machinations and turning of gears in his head. For Yui, Kurama could only smile. She could never know about his earlier dream. No one could.
"Master."
The Master's gaze blinked at the mirror he had been staring at. Yui was finally settling down for bed. He had been sitting there in the pitch black exuding from his aura, waiting and waiting impatiently for the girl to finally go off to bed and sleep. Just a little bit longer and he could reach into the mirror to touch her. It was a poor substitute for the real thing, but it would do for now.
"This had better be good."
He could see the dim silhouette of one of his many servants. Even through his darkness, the bright yellow of her electric eyes were a dead give away from what clan she descended from.
"I have completed my assignment, Master. The committee for the Dark Tournament has adjusted their rules. Yui will now be able to participate in four months time."
The Master chuckled lowly.
"That was quick."
"Master," she giggled. "I am from the Eastern clan. Of course I would have it completed before expected. They were a bunch of humans anyway. It didn't take much convincing."
"And that sister of yours. Where is she?"
"She will be taken care of soon enough. I can't guarantee when, but soon. Very soon." She sounded almost eager for the fate that would fall on her own sister.
The Master quickly picked up on that weakness.
"You sound so happy. Is she not your own flesh and blood?"
"To be fair, Master, she is only my half sister."
"You want us to do what?"
Keiko hadn't quite expected a call from Mao on her day off. Mao was pacing the living room floor, biting her nails, a habit she picked up from her sister.
"She's upset."
"About what?"
Mao also invited Botan who was just as confused as Keiko.
"It's my sister. She gets upset easily."
"She just back home. Shouldn't she be happy?" Wondered Botan.
"You would think but," Mao anxiously ran her hand through her hair and then put her hands on her hips. "When I suggested she and I go grab a bite to eat at this new cafe so we can talk and bond and junk, that is until she discovered something. She went through a growth spurt while she was away and now...nothing in her wardrobe fits."
"Oh dear," Botan gasped.
"Nothing fits. Absolutely nothing."
"Not even her uniform. She's grew taller and bigger in,um, certain places." Mao gestured towards her chest.
"Oh." The other girls nodded in unison.
"She's been in her room hiding under the covers for the last hour and half. Can you help me get out of this house so we can go shopping?"
Botan eagerly clapped her hands.
"A girl's day out!"
"But first we have to get her out from under her covers first."
Botan flexed her muscles. "Leave it to me!"
"But where's Wakana and Miu? Wouldn't they be of better help? They're a lot stronger than we are?"
"Keiko, I'll have you know that I'm just as strong as a strong when I put my mind to it!"
"They're out with my mom. She's helping them disguise better so they can blend in."
The girls walked carefully towards Yui's bedroom. The door, to their surprise, was left unlocked. Clothes of all kinds were discarded around the room, very much like Yui. A massive bundle was curled up on the bed with white socks poking out from under the quilted blanket.
"Yui? Botan and Keiko are here. Don't you want to say hi?"
"Hi." Came Yui's muffled voice.
"Why don't we get you out from under there and go shopping?" Botan hopped over a pile of sweaters. "You don't want to sit there all day, do you?"
"Why not? I have nothing decent to wear. All that's left are sweatpants and over-sized t-shirts."
"That's why we need to take you shopping. So you can find clothes that fit!" Mao was exasperated and impatient. One would think that after six months of training, Yui would be more confident than this.
"You can't stay in your room forever. You have to go to school."
"Ugh, fine." Yui muffled through the sheets before she pulled them off her.
She rubbed her face in her hands. Her eyes were red and tired.
"How much sleep did you get last night?" Mao asked, worried.
"Nothing to worry about," Yui gave her sister a half-smile. "Just a bad dream."
Mao seized her wrist and from that moment on, all afternoon Yui was at the mercy of her sister and her friends. What should have been a quick affair, lasted for three hours. Mao pushed her into several changing rooms and layered a mountain of clothes in her arms while the other waited outside, seated at cushioned chairs.
"What's wrong with this look?" Mao couldn't understand why Yui looked so displeased with the ensemble she took the time to put together from the clothes rack.
"Nothing!" Yui answered, defensively. "It's just that it's blue."
"What's wrong with blue?"
"I always wear blue."
"I thought you liked that color."
"No, you and Mom assumed that I liked blue. I just...never said anything before."
Mao groaned.
"Then what color do you like?" Asked Botan.
Yui's face flushed a new shade of pink and she looked away as if she was scared that her opinion would insult someone's ancestors.
"I might be inclined to say that I like pink."
"I'll be right back." Keiko disappeared for a good fifteen minutes and returned with a bundle of clothes stacked up to her chin. She wobbled as she walked, unsure of where to put her feet. Slowly, she walked up to Yui put the bundle in her arms. There were so many variations of pink and in different fabrics that Yui didn't know what to do with them all. Only with some pushing and prodding did she walk back into the changing rooms.
It would be another ten to fifteen minutes before she emerged again wearing a light-weight chiffon and cotton sundress. It reached to Yui's ankles. The bust was perfectly fitted, though a smidgen tight. The bottom of the dress flowed down to her ankles in cascades of wavy chiffon. A short length of ruffles lined the top of the bodice. The three girls stared at her.
"It looks weird, doesn't it?" Yui began chewing on her finger nails.
"Just the opposite. You look adorable. I'm sure Kurama would like it." Botan giggled before Mao elbowed her in the gut, but it was too late.
Yui whipped around, clapping her hands on her cheeks to hide her blush. She rushed back inside the safety and privacy of the dressing room where no one could see her embarrassment. Her thoughts had been so preoccupied as of late that Kurama was hardly the center of them, most of the time. But when even the mere mention of his name without him present was enough to make Yui's cheek burn with the white-hot heat of a thousand suns, although hyperbole maintained a strong pretense. She changed quickly into her sweats, grabbed the clothes that both fit her and that she liked, and marched out of the dressing room. Hiding beneath several pairs of jeans, t-shirts, blouses, and other things, the pink chiffon sundress was secretly tucked away. Without her friends, she took the items to the register and paid for them. She returned with three or four bags in her arms. Mao sensed just how uncomfortable Yui was in this situation and called it a day. Once they were home, Yui rushed to her bedroom under the guise of organizing her new wardrobe.
Mao, being her usual nosy self, snuck up to Yui's bedroom door and pressed her ear against it. Yui was mumbling and muttering to herself, but at least there was no sign of a cold front escaping from underneath the door. Mao back away slowly and walked towards the phone in the kitchen. She knew just who to call.
Kurama had been pulled away from dinner by the time Mao called him. It sounded urgent and so he rushed from his house to the Kagami household only to find that most of the lights had been turned off. His heart started racing. The hair at the back of his neck were raised. He tried the front door despite his instincts.
"Hello?" He called.
Mao appeared around the corner, unharmed and well. He sighed with relief.
"What's the matter? You called me so suddenly. Is there something wrong with your sister?"
"Yes, and no." Mao paused to think. "She's been having trouble sleeping lately. She won't talk about it. It's starting to affect her. Today she woke up at almost one o'clock in the afternoon. That's not like her at all."
Kurama nodded.
"Yes, that doesn't sound like her. But perhaps her body is still trying to adjust? Perhaps this is the equivalent of a 'jet lag?' She could just need some rest."
"No," Mao shook her head. "I've got this gut feeling that it's something different. Something's up. I know it."
"Well," Kurama thought for a moment. "Your gut instincts were right once before. If I go and talk to her, will that make you feel better?"
Mao nodded vigorously.
"Yes, yes it would very much."
Kurama made his way down the hall until he reached Yui's bedroom. He half-expected the doorknob to be frozen stiff but all he could feel was a slightly cold steel. Classical music was blaring from the crack between the door and the carpeted floor. Mao stood near-by, unnerving him.
"Mao," he looked over his shoulder.
"Yes?" She almost sounded chipper and anxious.
"Maybe you should wait in the living room or your room."
Pouting, Mao turned about face and made her way in the opposite direction. Once she was gone, Kurama knocked at the door and opened it when no other sound besides Mozart answered him. There were four bags sitting on the floor stuffed with clothes, but they looked old and well-worn. Yui sat at her desk. She still had not have noticed him at all. Her eyes were glued to her computer, blue eyes narrowed and focused. Kurama quietly approached her after shutting the door behind him. He stepped towards him, tip-toeing, and placed his hand carefully on her shoulder. Yui gasped, almost shrieking, at his hand. She stood from her chair, panting, until she was looking at him. She gripped his hand at her shoulder sending shivers up his arm as the steely cold touch of her slender fingers came as if it was unexpected of an ice dragon.
"You startled me." Yui sighed. Her breathing returned to normal.
"I apologize. I understand that your sister is concerned about you. You haven't been sleeping well it seems. You never mentioned that in any of your letters."
Yui removed his hand and walked over to her bed. She sat down, mattress groaning beneath her, and she grabbed her pillow. She hugged it close to her torso. She cast her eyes down and avoided Kurama's gaze, like she had something to be ashamed of.
"I didn't want you to worry or think I'm crazy."
Kurama pulled up the desk chair so he sat across from her. He took her hand, not even caring about the goosebumps crawling up his arm at her cold touch.
"You're making me more worried by not telling me."
She looked him in the eyes. She was serious now.
"Can you keep a promise to keep quiet about what I'm going to tell you?"
"I'm really not sure if—"
"Lately, I've been having this strange dreams, nightmares more like. My dreams start off as they normally do, but then suddenly everything disappears and I'm left alone in this darkness. Then, this man appears out of nowhere. I struggle a bit but then he saps the energy right out of me. The next thing I know, he's showing me this well back in my hometown."
"And then what?" He squeezed her hand for comfort.
"I wake up. My body feels ten times heavier. I'm weak and I feel defenseless. I can hardly move at all."
"What does this man look like? What does he say?"
Yui screwed her eyes shut to remember the image of her nightmarish figure better.
"Long black hair, black eyes, pale skin. He always wears a black kimono and he...he has this power to control my dreams," her eyes snapped open. Yui visibly shivered as if to shake of the memory of this man. "And I use the term man very lightly. He doesn't seem very much like a man to me. More like a demon."
"Are you saying that this man is a demon?"
"Most likely."
"And he's able to penetrate your dreams and control them?"
"Yes."
"Then we have to tell someone about this. You could be in grave danger. Even in the demon world, having someone enter your dreams whenever they see fit and control them isn't a good thing." Kurama immediately stood up and tried to take Yui with him. But she was not only obstinate, she was immovable. Literally.
She tugged back his arm with the least amount of effort. It didn't surprise him all that much, but it surprised him more than it should. Yui hastily shook her head. Her eyes were wide with fear and her grip round about his arm was hard as rock. He couldn't possibly have broken it even if he tried.
"No." Yui muttered. Kurama could barely hear her over the sound of violins and cellos masking their conversation.
"This isn't normal. You need to tell someone. Anyone. What about your grandmother? Surely, she would know what to do?"
"No," Yui repeated. "Nobody can know. Not until I found out what he wants first."
"Yui, you can't be serious?"
"I'm dead serious."
Kurama gave her another once-over. She really was dead serious. Her frosty brows were screwed tighter than the nuts holding her desk together. The pale pink lips of her mouth were drawn into an unimaginably taut line and her blue eyes were narrowed into dangerous-looking slits. He swallowed hard, taking in the image.
"And you're coming with me."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm getting on a midnight train to Sapporo, tonight. You can either come with me or you can stay behind. I won't force you."
"You're not going to go alone."
"Which is why I'm asking you to join me. I'm willing to take 'no' for an answer, but it would behoove you to keep an eye on me, if only to make yourself feel better."
"You're not joking, are you?"
"I told you I'm dead serious. Now are you coming with me or not?"
Kurama heaved a sigh that seemed to have weighed a ton. He pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. The stubbornness of the mother had descended upon the daughter.
"I can't just let you go by yourself. I really have no choice in the matter, do I?"
"Not at this point anymore."
Sneaking out was the easy part. Getting past the security guards or at least avoiding asking that were far too probing for Kurama's liking was a piece of cake. Waiting at the station for Yui to show up was agony. He looked at his watch. It was almost eleven forty-five. He could hear the train far off in the distance, only a few kilometers away. If she didn't show up, he could only assume that she was foiled and retained safely back at home. Where he should have been if that cunning little girl hadn't twisted his arm, both metaphorically and physically. He had looked at his arm in the mirror when he got home, rolled up his sleeve, and found the purple and blue bruise decorating his arm like a tattoo. Yui had not realized that she had caused him harm, but then again she probably didn't realize that her new found strength was capable of doing such things. And possibly more. So much more.
"Sorry, I'm late. Hope you weren't waiting for too long." Yui climbed into the empty seat on the bench next to him, unloading her backpack at her feet.
"Is this going to be a day trip?" He cast a look at his own luggage from the corner of his eye.
"The teacher's conference should be last a whole week but we'll be back long before then. A day or two. I promise. Just long enough for me to get answers."
"What do you expect to find?"
"I don't know yet.
Before either could say anything more, the train sped into the station and eventually slowed at the boarding pass. Only a handful of passengers were left off. Yui and Kurama climbed aboard. Their tickets were promptly handed over to the security guard who gave them both a suspicious look. They surfed their way between empty aisles of seats before finding a pair at the very back of the cabin. Setting themselves down for a very long ride, Kurama managed to stay awake longer than Yui. As soon as the train pulled out of the station, her eyelids grew heavy and began to close. He watched as they closed completely, her black lashes caressing the tops of her pink-hued cheeks. Her lips parted in the sweetest manner and he was tempted for an instant to do something out of character and unnecessarily naughty, but Kurama thought against it and immediately put such thoughts back in the gutter where they belonged. The dream of his own was getting to him. It was still quite the vivid dream, especially since he rarely dreamed at all. Weren't dreams supposed to be just the manifestations of the subconscious? They weren't supposed to be so detailed. Besides, how could he have possibly known that Yui liked pearls to begin with or if that little detail was just a figment of his imagination? There was more fantasy than truth muddling around in his brain at the moment thanks to the strange dream that would never be mentioned aloud for so long as he lived.
After what seemed to be forever, Kurama nodded off to sleep himself. He was suddenly startled awake by this pressure on his shoulder. His eyes cracked open and he turned. There was Yui sound asleep, snoring like her precious dire wolf, and using his shoulder as a make-shift pillow. Kurama found it oddly comforting to have her so close to him. At the very least he knew where she was and that she was safe. He reclined back into his seat. He managed to pull his arm about her shoulder and pushed her ever-so-slightly nearer to him. Slipping his hand back, he crossed his arms and fell asleep again.
Be prepared. Next chapter will, without a doubt, include much needed, and hopefully much anticipated fluffiness, before shit gets real. Sorry for the long wait. I made the mistake of letting my creative energy go into so many stories, both fanfiction and original, that I rarely have anything to add. Thanks so much for the support and being so patient. XOXO, sweetings!