Chapter Three- Apology

Kaito looked sympathetically at Kurama Monday morning who seemed depressed. "I take it did not go well?"

"I explained well enough and covered everything I wanted and needed to say. I told her Saturday night and proved it to her. She did not tell the others and last night I found that she is afraid of me and is distancing herself from me."

"All in all, it seems telling her was not the wisest course."

"It certainly looks that way. Perhaps I should leave her alone and give her more time to digest it thoroughly."

"That is probably best." The bell rang and Kaito headed to his seat. Kurama sighed as he got out the book and papers for the first lesson. He had expected too much from his confession and really shouldn't have tried to talk to her after almost twenty-four hours after confessing. She needs more time, he thought as he took notes. Days, maybe even weeks. She will adjust to it and will not fear me anymore.

Shiori looked at the picture on her desk. It was a snapshot of her on a bench, smiling, with her son behind the bench, smiling and his hands on her shoulders. She focused on the redhead, specifically. He looks so normal and yet I now know that he isn't. How could I move on knowing I have a demon for a son? He claims he told the truth because he fears an enemy will target me. Well, he has been with me for years and I have never seen a demon, save for Shuichi. So perhaps his confession was made out of guilt and not fear. He did apologize for not telling me before. Maybe I was wrong to distance myself from him. He has not hurt me and he won't. He said he'd rather kill himself than hurt me. Shuichi has been nothing but kind and polite. I was wrong to treat him differently. He is still my son and perhaps having him as a demon is a good thing. He admitted to fighting other demons which means he can protect himself and, by extension, the family. I will talk to him when I get home. Shiori turned away from the picture and back to her work, feeling a lot better than she did this morning.

Shiori entered the house and once she had put her things away, she went up to Kurama's room only to see that the light was off. She frowned thoughtfully as she went to her other son's room. She knocked and then entered. "Honey, have you seen Shuichi?"

"No, but he called to say he's staying after school."

"I see. Thanks." Shiori left, a little concerned. Shuichi had been known to stay behind after school had ended for the day, but she felt that this time was different. Is he trying to minimize interaction with me? I must have really hurt him. Shiori felt bad. She had loved and raised him to be a kind boy and when he chose to be honest, she refused to be alone with him and practically pushed him away. She went about her late afternoon activities, determined to speak to her son as soon as he was home. That plan didn't happen as Kurama came home as Shiori was preparing dinner. She heard the door open and close, but by the time she got to the bottom of the stairs, he had already disappeared. Okay. I'll talk to him after dinner.

Shiori headed up after the dishes were done and with which Kokoda had helped, and to Kurama's door. She knocked and entered to see her son at his desk. "Shuichi, dear? I want to talk."

He turned to her with a calm, neutral expression. "All right."

She crossed to the bed and sat as Kurama turned around in his chair to face her. "I'm sorry, dear. I shouldn't have treated you the way that I did."

"It was a lot I told you. I just wanted to lift this guilt I was carrying."

Shiori couldn't help smiling. "You bore it well all these years."

Kurama smiled also. "True." He stood, went to Shiori who held out her arms, and embraced her. "I never want to hurt you."

"I know, honey. You have always been sweet and kind. Our relationship shouldn't change just because you revealed that you're a demon. I imagine not all demons are bad."

"Correct." Kurama released and sat beside her. "My friend, Hiei, does not care for humans but does not attack them."

"So were you avoiding me by staying at school?"

"Yes. I had resolved to give you time alone to absorb what I had revealed. I believed you would need days or weeks to take it all in."

"It will take days to get used to it and if I have questions I want you to answer them."

"I would be happy to. Do you have questions now?"

"Just one right now. You said you fight other demons. How?"

"Sometimes I do so by avoiding my opponent's swings and then simple gentle counter attacks. But when I go on the offensive, I use plants to attack."

"Plants?"

"Yes. My preferred weapon is a rose that I change into a whip."

"Could I…see?"

Kurama nodded, got up, and moved away before taking out a rose and with a snap of the wrist and energy, it transformed. Shiori's eyes looked from the handle in Kurama's hand to the whip's length that was adorned with thorns.

"Amazing."

"It is very effective. The thorns are strong enough to cut through stone and steel." Kurama changed it back to a rose and offered it to Shiori who accepted it.

"Can you use any kind of plant?"

"Yes; even grass and leaves could be a weapon for me."

"Incredible. Can all foxes do that?"

"Not all use plants but foxes do possess some control over an element of nature. Some do fire, some do water. Any one of countless elements."

Shiori asked for more information about demons and Kurama obliged by talking about the energy classification, some of the different types of demons, and even their diet.

"Some eat humans?" she asked with a look of horror.

"Sadly, yes. Fox demon do not, clearly. However, any humans who are found in Demon World are returned her with their memories of the world erased."

"How do they end up there?"

"They accidentally fell through a portal that occasionally opens up for a brief period. They are rare though so not many end up in Demon World."

"Could demons come here?"

"Only those who choose to violate the lord's law of no trouble in what we call Human World."

"And that's why you told me: Because one of them could come here and threaten my safety to lure you into a trap."

"Yes. I do not want to think that way but with the barrier separating the two worlds gone, I must consider that possibility."

Shiori listened to Kurama speak and noticed that he didn't talk like a normal teenager. It's probably because of his demon side. He's lived for centuries. "Shuichi, do your friends call you by the name I gave you?"

"My classmates do, but my closest friends call me Kurama. When I take my demon form, I simply go by Yoko."

Shiori nodded. "May I call you Kurama in private? I mean, it's an eloquent name and it fits you."

"I would like that, Mother." He hugged her again before she left and Kurama returned to his work, happy that Mother had truly accepted him.