Chapter 26

A/N: As usual many apologies for making you all wait so long. With the little one almost here I've been super busy getting everything ready for him and neglecting my dear readers. Hopefully this chapter will set us back up for some more action next time. I hope you enjoy.

Kali gazed at the tip of the blade, then her eyes flicked to the angry red orbs Hiei had fixed upon her.

"I was trying to find you," she explained, her cheeks still slightly pink at the mistake.

"I'm sure you were," Hiei replied, his katana unwavering, "ready to pay your debt?"

"What debt?" Malcolm asked frowning.

"Go tend to the fox Mal, this is between me and the demon," Kali said gritting her teeth. She hadn't mentioned to Malcolm what she had promised Hiei, and preferred if he didn't find out.

"Hiei lower your sword," Kurama said.

Hiei's eyes turned toward his partner momentarily, then surprising everyone he complied the sword held down at his side, but not put away. The fox had only asked that it be lowered.

"Go ahead Fox, breakfast is ready," Hiei turned his gaze back to the wolf girl. Kurama exchanged a confused look with Malcolm, who fidgeted nervously unsure if he should break rank or obey.

"When you two are finished I'd like to speak with Kahli," Kurama said, pausing to see if either seemed to have a problem with that idea. Hiei's eye twitched slightly, but he said nothing. Kali just nodded.

Kurama turned to leave, Malcolm shot his sister a hesitant look, but followed after the red head, still clutching his med kit.

Kali let out a slow breath once the sounds of their departure faded enough for her to know she was indeed alone with the yokai. She wondered if she was more worried about her current situation or the lengthy conversation she was sure to have with Kurama if she survived this. As Hiei slowly raised his sword again she decided that she'd dwell on that matter when the time came.

"Now then, how shall we go about this?" Hiei asked.

"Do what you have to, but remember I did manage to get him back to you alive, for my brother's sake I'd expect you to extend me the same courtesy." Kali said, her body stiffening as she awaited the first blow, she closed her eyes, knowing she should be brave enough to face what was coming, but not finding herself able to.

Hiei watched the girl stiffen, he could tell she was afraid, but also sense her resolve. In truth he had expected her to come to him whimpering and crying that he shouldn't harm her. Though he was a demon and a thief, Hiei had always lived by his own set of moral codes. While compassion for the weak wasn't part of these codes, respect for a fellow warrior was.

It was out of that respect that he slipped the sword quickly into Kali's side, letting her blood spill heavy on the ground below.

Malcolm stood pacing outside the cave. He had already tended and re-wrapped Kurama's wounds and now was anxiously waiting for his sister and the fire demon to return. He had considered slipping off to look for them, but realized it would be a bad idea to leave the fox unattended when he was still so weak from his ordeal.

Kurama sat on a nearby rock also looking around for any sign that the others were coming back soon. Malcolm heard a noise and paused to listen better. The wind shifted slightly and he caught the scent, instinctively a growl vibrated deep in his throat.

"What is it?" Kurama asked, fearing he already knew the answer as he felt Hiei's aura approaching.

"Blood," Malcolm replied, his teeth flashing as he tried to decide if he should change forms or not.

Hiei appeared on the other side of the stream, Kali held against his side as he helped her to cross. Her blue tunic was stained dark as the blood continued to leak from her wound. Kurama jumped to his feet and staggered forward to help the yokai ease the ookami down to a sitting position. Kali looked pale, but otherwise unphased. As soon as she was seated on the ground, Malcolm sprang forward in his wolf form, jaws ripping for Hiei's throat.

Caught off guard and off balanced Hiei fell over into the stream with Mal on top of him, struggling to avoid the wolf's razor sharp teeth. Smelling the blood of his sister on the dark haired demon only drove Malcolm further over the edge as he ignored the fists slamming into him as he bore down trying to hold the demon under water and simultaneously lock his jaws on their intended mark.

Kali jerked herself up, holding her side she fell forward trying to drag Malcolm back, Kurama reached to help her, but their combined effort was no match for ookami strength.

"Mal, Stop!" Kali yelled, finally she dipped her head down and bit into the soft flesh of Malcolm's ear. The wolf gave a yelp and jumped clear, surprised at being reprimanded like a misbehaving pup.

Hiei pulled his head up gasping at air, a few fresh scratches spilling blood on his arms and face. Nothing deep enough to matter, they would be healed within an hour or so. Still he scowled at the wolf with murderous intent etched into his face.

Kali fell back panting, her reserve of energy spent as her wound continued to bleed. Kurama glared around and rubbed his head tiredly.

"Perhaps an explanation is in order?" he said at last.

"Mal, change back and wrap this for me," Kali said pushing herself up so she was sitting back against a boulder. Malcolm growled his complaint, but did as he was told, keeping his eyes on the yokai who had finally stood up out of the water.

"How bad is it?" Malcolm asked, grabbing his med kit and kneeling down over Kali.

"It's deep, but clean, will be healed by tomorrow," Kali replied moving her hands away so her brother could examine the wound for himself.

"Hiei?" Kurama asked, raising his eyebrow.

"It's nothing for you to worry about Fox. The wolf and I had made a deal and it's paid off now." Hiei replied, crossing his arms over himself.

"And what were the terms of this deal exactly?" Kurama asked. Hiei faltered.

"It doesn't matter now, like Hiei said it's over and done with," Kali replied. Gently fingering the bandages Malcolm had wrapped around her she leaned forward and with a little help managed to get to her feet. "You two should leave as soon as possible, I'm afraid we made a bit of a mess back there and anything with a nose in a hundred mile radius is likely to come to check it out soon."

"Before that, we need to talk," Kurama said taking a step towards Kali. She sighed and nodded. Hiei made a move to accompany them, but Kurama waved him off, "I won't go far Hiei, please wait for me here."

Malcolm growled at him, "I'm not going to sit around and wait to see what's left of her once you're done."

"Peace Malcolm," Kali instructed, "we really are just going to talk."

"Yes, it seems that is long overdue," Kurama said solemnly.

The two walked off in silence until Kurama could no longer feel Hiei's aura behind him and Kali could no longer smell Malcolm. Until they were finally alone, really for the first time since so long ago.

They stopped walking, and Kali slowly set herself down on the ground beside the stream. Kurama followed suit, both starred off into the water, not speaking for several minutes.

Finally Kali's voice broke the silence. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"Nor did I," Kurama assured her.

Kali shook her head, "That's not what I mean, you should never had been dragged into any of this, I know it's my fault that you were."

"I came here of my own will," Kurama pointed out, they both continued to watch the water. Afraid to shatter their moment of resolve by doing something as intimate as making eye contact while they talked.

"You only came here because I made you think you had a reason to," Kali said looking down.

"I remember now," Kurama said quietly. Kali looked up surprised but said nothing.

"I was leaving on a mission, well not so much a mission as a job, you were angry with me over that, constantly telling me that all my thievery would bring me nothing but trouble."

"Ah, I was insufferably righteous back then," Kali said a hint of smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"I considered you naive and endearing," Kurama replied with a chuckle. Kali scoffed.

"The day I was to leave I went to wait for you by the pond, as I always did. Hoping you'd come to see me off," he continued.

"I told you I wouldn't come," Kali interjected.

"You always said that, but I knew you always came, even when you hated what I was doing, you still wanted to see me off and warn me to be careful."

"I didn't come that day though," Kali said frowning, "the shard had gone missing and everyone was searching for it.

"True, you didn't meet me at the pond, but someone did," Kurama risked a glance over at the girl. Kali's eyes rose slowly to meet his as she pondered the question she was afraid to ask.

"Who... who met you that day?"

"I didn't know him at the time, but after having been subjected to his 'hospitality' for the past few days I'm quite sure it was Brogan."

Kali inhaled sharply, "Why? What did he want?"

"He told me that you felt that I had betrayed your friendship for the last time, that you never wanted me to return."

"And you believed him?" Kali asked frowning.

"Of course not, but then he tried to give me the shard."

"HE DID WHAT?" Kali jerked around to face him, seeing that he had her full attention Kurama continued.

"It was a fake of course, I could feel that as soon as he held it out to me. But he insisted that you had sent him to bring it to me because you felt that was the only reason I had befriended you, was to one day steal the shard away and you'd rather I just take it now."

"That doesn't make any sense," Kali replied, "Why would I give you the shard? Even a fake one?"

"I took the fake from him, planning to give it back to you once I returned from my job. I hid it in a plant near the pond."

"Only you never returned," Kali said, "When Brogan returned to the village he said he'd seen you running away, but had been unable to catch you. Your reputation as a master thief did the rest and naturally we all thought you'd done it. When you didn't return it was all but confirmed."

"He planned it all, and we walked right into his trap," Kurama said sadly.

"That bastard," Kali spit, "I'll rip his throat out for all he's done."

"Forgive me for thinking that you'd be letting him off easy," Kurama said. Kali glanced at him and frowned. Of course killing Brogan would be better than the traitor deserved. He had inflicted years of pain and suffering on her pack and tortured an innocent Yoko. He should be so lucky to die.

"Perhaps there is another way, something more fitting," Kali said.

"I want to be part of it," Kurama said, "he took something very valuable from me."

"If you want your revenge for the past week I understand, but if you're too weak to help I promise to make sure he knows he suffers on your behalf"

"I wasn't referring to this past week Kahli," he said reaching for her hand. She looked up at him, surprised, with his free hand he reached for her cheek and gently caressed it.

"I'm not sure what you mean Yo... Kurama," she stammered to correct herself, remembering his constant insistence that he preferred to be called by his name.

"Friendships in the Makai are rare, demons too easily turn on one another only forging rough alliances when they deem them to be beneficial to both parties. What you and I had back then," he paused, looking deeply into her eyes, "it was something special. I cherished my time with you, knowing that when we were together it was only because we enjoyed each others company and not because we expected to gain from it. At that time in my life, despite my many years of living I could count the number of true friends I'd had on one hand."

"I felt the same," she said with a smile squeezing his hand gently, "you were the only person outside of my pack that I'd ever felt I could really talk to, even if I did sometimes suspect you only hung around because you found it amusing to try to corrupt me." She winked.

"Well it was fun to try," He grinned, "but I knew you'd never be a thief, you were too opposed to the idea."

"I knew I'd never be able to change you, you were too used to the idea, and the fame of course."

"Ah yes, I do miss the fame," he rolled his eyes causing her to chuckle softly. Kali smiled at him then, a real smile, like the ones she used to save just for him. Just for those times when she wasn't so bogged down trying to be the pack's future alpha, always doing what was right for the pack, for her family, for everyone else. Kurama had been her escape then, the one person she could just be herself around. She realized then that she too had lost something valuable all those years ago, and it hadn't been the shard.

"We'll make him pay for what he took from us," she vowed.

"Yes," Kurama nodded, "we will."

Now that we finally have some explanation of what happened, perhaps I can get some reviews to see if any of it made sense?