Kurama strode into the quaint cafe that was nestled between a bookstore and a candy shop, it looked out of place with its dreary exterior contrasted against the purple and pink color schemes of the candy shop, and the brightly lit up bookstore. The warm summer air had his vibrant red hair up in a high ponytail. Normally he would wear it down to conceal the many seeds that he had at his disposal, but life seemed to be quieter ever since Yomi took over Maki, and he was no longer 'employed' with the spirit world.

Life was - dare he say - boring.

He faltered as he approached the counter, a whisper of reiki danced around him, probing for what he wasn't sure. Kurama forced a smile on his face as he ordered his green tea 'for here'. He went through the motions of paying for his drink and even remembered to hand over his loyalty card for a free drink next time. His yōki thrashed, swirling like lava low and deep in his gut, he pushed it down further until it just simmered. The reiki user could be unaware that they even possessed such powers, and he would really, really hate to have to find a new cafe.

He turned to walk to his table when he found that it was already being occupied. His green eyes narrowed at the person, that not only took his seat but was now trying to play tug of war with his yoki.

He sat down at the table opposite, making sure to be facing the individual. He could tell that it was a she from her short skirt and long legs. Her face was obstructed by a mane of black.

"Here you go, sir."

"Thank You," he murmured, as he reached out to grab the cup from the waitress. He didn't miss the blush that flushed her face, and on any other day, he would have flirted with her a bit - boost her ego, but not today. Instead, he took a tentative sip of his green tea, taste buds testing if the drink was really too hot for consumption, all the while keeping the figure in his line of sight.

The waitress scurried off with a rushed, "You're welcome."

He pulled out his laptop after setting his drink to the side to cool down before taking another drink. Kurama was starting to get used to the gentle caressing of her reiki trying to coax his yoki out. He was making some headway on his botanical thesis on the effects of cement dust on temperate bamboos when the figure raised her head.

Her eyes were blotchy, but Kurama thought that he had never seen such a beautiful blue in his long life. She was beautiful he could admit, but…

After so many battles and nearly drying more times than he would ever care to admit - boring was good.

She stumbled past; head cast down. The smell of salt and honey clung to her skin. Kurama lifted his mug, inhaled deeply as he drank, and yet her scent still danced under his nose.

The intruder was back in his spot the next week. Kurama would be lying to himself if said he wasn't a tiny - okay, he was extremely annoyed. Predator at heart, not having the best vantage point no matter the location was untethering.

He ordered a large coffee with two sugars and a smidge of creme. He gritted his teeth, his gums itched, his skin felt feverish. She was trying to play tug of war again with his yōki. He took long strides to the table that was opposite of her. The wooden chair screeched, cutting through the soft instrumental music, the hairs on his arms stood up in response to the sudden set of eyes that turned towards the noise.

She probably doesn't know.

The girl was staring at him. Her lips were parted slightly, her eyes were glassy.

His yōki rose up in response to the sudden spike in energy. He dug his nails into his palms, the slickness of the blood ebbing the need to dominate. Her energy coiled around him. The warmth of it burned hotter than the fresh coffee that was placed in front of him. His eyes darted to the movement of her crossing and uncrossing her legs, they were covered in small scratches - too small for the human eye to catch.

Oh. She did know.

The barista handed him a new loyalty punch card with a number scribbled on the back. Kurama reclaimed his normal table, far in the back with a clear view of the coming and goings of the shop. She wasn't in the cafe.

His yōki was quiet and no amount of coaxing seemed to wake it up. He opened up his laptop. Boring was good right?

She wasn't there the following week either. Maybe he wouldn't have to find another cafe.

His hand hovered in front of the clear door. His yōki was raging inside of him urging him forward. He stood rigid behind her as she ordered her drink. Her fingers seemed to tremble as she pulled out her card to pay - Kagome it read.

Caged bird.

She brushed past him, her reiki and his yōki leaping towards one another, his negative energy rushing to smother the positive force. They intermingled, her energy welcomed him with open arms, cradling his yōki as if it were a mere kit searching for a teat.

He requested the same drink as hers.

For the next three weeks, he was able to reclaim his preferred table. His yōki swayed to and fro in his gut, spiking with each sip of his new favorite latte.

Perhaps boring wasn't so great after all.

The sudden rush of his yōki roaring caused him to stumble, nearly hitting his nose on the door. He clawed at his chest, his body trembling with each exhale.

The barista looked at him with something akin to concern as he ordered his drink. Kurama flashed her bright smile, and his misstep from earlier was forgotten. As he made his way towards the back of the cafe, the worn-down floors squeaked below him, he focused on the tugging sensation that twisted his intestines around and walked past the opposite table and towards the chair opposite of her instead.

Her dark hair was pulled into a low ponytail with stray strands clinging to the slender column of her neck. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the mug. A burst of reiki shot out from her fingertips and hit him right in the chest as he sat down. He wasn't expecting the warmth that spread through his body and soothed his aches. His limbs felt like rubber and that warmth seemed to take a fast track straight to his groin.

Getting hit with holy energy should hurt right?

"Hi." The poor woman looked like she wanted to bolt out of her skin, he wouldn't blame her if she did dart out. "Kurama."

She loosened her grip; he could see the blood flowing back into her knuckles.

"Kagome."

Kurama soon learned that life with a time-traveling priestess was anything but boring.

AN: Thank you all for the kind reviews! If you have any requests, let me know.