The following Saturday morning in the park, Kurama stared at his phone ruefully, trying to will it to receive a message. Nothing. No answers. No replies. No evidence that his messages sent were even read.
Nanashi had slipped out of his apartment unexpectedly the night after Youko attacked her. He had been so exhausted afterwards, but she had been, too. Last time they had slept together so hard, late in the morning, that he had expected her to do just that after last night. Afford her a change to sleep so he could then be afforded a chance to explain.
She ran off and then would not answer any messages beyond she got home and to leave her alone. That Monday, the holiday they had off of school. Then on the Tuesday through Friday at school, she avoided him. No messages read, absolutely unwillingness to talk him about anything. Her roadblocking was beyond frustrating. She sat with Kaito at lunch. She avoided him after school as well. She would not listen and would not be made to listen.
He sat on the park bench near where they usually trained, hoping she would at least show up to train as usual. Frustratingly not, especially since he heard and sensed some unnatural things going on in Mushiyori City one town over and wanted to bring her with him today to investigate it. He preferred not to go alone, but it was shaping up like he did not have much of a choice.
"Where's the girl?" he heard a voice call out behind him. He turned around, seeing Hiei emerge from the tree line. "Lovers' quarrel?"
Kurama turned back, humming under his breath calmingly. "Uncertain," he answered.
"Not hovering for a change? Must be nice for you," Hiei said, but then frowned. "Or is it?"
Kurama shook his head, not wanting to discuss it. "Have you heard anything about Mushiyori City? Something is not right there. The news reports sound off," he aimed to change the subject. "I was wanting to go there to investigate this morning. Perhaps you would be interested in accompanying me instead? It is not a problem for me to pay for two metro tickets," he offered. He twisted around to look at him.
Hiei rolled his eyes, stepping closer to the bench. "That's outside this mundane city's limits," he pointed out. "Surely you would rue us going to Spirit World prison for that, taking me out of the city I'm stuck in for probation yet. Aren't you tasked with keeping me in check?"
Kurama clicked his teeth, remembering. "Unfortunate. I must have forgotten," he muttered.
"What's got you so distracted?" he asked. "Not that I care," he added.
Kurama shook his head. "It is nothing to be concerned about," he sighed, looking down at his phone once more. No new messages. He rose up, pocketing his phone. "I will just go there myself to investigate it," he resigned.
"Where's the girl?" Hiei asked once more.
Kurama shook his head. "Not with me," he answered, turning and walking away.