Part 2=Kurama Tells Truth / Hiei Finds Out

Kurama walked slowly up the steps to her house. She really didn't want to tell her mother but considering the circumstances she had to. What was she afraid of? Rejection, disgust? Yeah, she couldn't live with herself if Shiori hated her for what she really was. But more important, what would happen if Shiori accepted her?

"Its okay, Kurama," said Yukina touching her arm. "If she rejects you, you can always live in the temple with Genkai and me."

"Thanks, Yukina," she said and walked up to the door. Opening it she invited everyone in and followed, closing the door.

"Mother," she said thankful that her voice is the same alto.

"In the kitchen, dear."

Kurama lead the way into the kitchen where Shiori was cutting lettuce for a salad. She looked up when they entered and smiled.

"Guests," she asked.

"For a little while."

Shiori took one look at her son (or daughter) and knew something was wrong.

"Shuichi? Is something wrong? You seem different."

She doesn't know how different. Kurama took Shiori's hand and led her to a chair. She sat down and Kurama sat across from her. The others followed. Yusuke on her left Yukina and Kuwabara on her right.

"Mother, I have something to tell you," she said.

"What's wrong?"

"I kept a secret from you for many years. When I tell you this I'll understand if you reject me but considering the turn of events I have to tell you."

"Shuichi, you know you can tell me anything."

"What I'm going to tell you you probably won't believe."

"Try me."

Kurama looked at the others for a little support, but that's why they were there. To back her up when she's confessing her true nature to Shiori. He wished Hiei was there.

"I'm not really your son. My true name is Youko Kurama and I'm a fox demon. Seventeen years ago I was shot by a hunter and was severely wounded. Using the little energy I had left I escaped to come here and melded with the spirit inside the baby you carried."

Shiori looked at her in shock and looked at the others, silently asking if it was true. They all nodded.

"I don't believe it," she said. "This is a joke, right? You expect me to believe my only son is a demon?"

"I never asked you to believe me, mother. And it's not a joke. It's all true."

"Show her, Kurama," said Yukina.

"She's not ready," said Kurama turning to the petite Koorime.

"Right now you don't have much of a choice," said Yusuke.

Kurama nodded and stood up. She didn't like this idea but it was the only way to convince Shiori. Mist surrounded her and she felt herself change. Her ears moved to the top of her head and turned cat- like. Her crimson hair bleached silver and grew down to her waist. Her green outfit changed to the white tunic and pants of Youko Kurama. Her tail sprouted from her tailbone and she grew in height. The mist dispersed, revealing Youko Kurama. Kurama looked down and saw that she was still a girl. Mentally she cursed.

"Obviously the spell effected both forms," said Yusuke.

"No shit, Sherlock," said Kurama forgetting that Shiori was there but she was too entranced by her son's transformation to care.

"Spell," asked Shiori coming out of her trance, "what spell?"

"I am now a detective for Reikai," explained Kurama, her usual tenor voice a soprano. "I fight demons that want to take over the three worlds and protect Ningenkai from invasions and other harmful creatures. On a mission this morning a demon cast a spell on me and turned me into a girl."

"Will you be able to change back," she asked.

"I hope so and it will take Genkai a week or a month to find the counter spell."

"You only have two forms?"

"Three, actually."

"Three?"

Nodding the mist surrounded Kurama again and this time he became a fox. Walking slowly to Shiori she sat by her chair. Hesitantly Shiori petted her, Kurama made a rumbling sound in her chest. She was purring, and she wagged her tails. All nine of them.

"Are you all demons," asked Shiori pointing to the other three.

"Half demon," said Yusuke.

"Full human," said Kuwabara.

"I'm a demon crossbreed," said Yukina. "I'm the daughter of a fire demon and a Koorime."

Shiori nodded and continued to pet Kurama, who had jumped on her lap now that Shiori had accepted her.

"Well, I guess we're done here," said Yusuke. Yukina and Kuwabara followed him out. Petted Kurama for a few more seconds, and then said, "Shuichi, can you change back into a human please?"

Kurama whined but jumped off her and changed back to her human form. They talked over lunch what his life was like in Makai. He told her of her past, well most of it, and her adventure on how she met the other Detectives.

"So is there a special demoness you admire," asked Shiori smiling teasingly. Kurama blushed as red as her hair and shook her head.

"Well, you should find a nice girl to settle down with."

"I….already have a lover, mother."

"Oh, who is she? What is she like?"

"Mother, I…."

"Well, tell me Shuichi."

"I love a guy, mother."

Shiori looked shocked at her son. But it quickly changed to a stern look.

"I have just one question, do you love him?"

"Yes, mother. I love him more than life itself. He's a three-eyed, barbaric half fire demon but I don't care, I love him and he'll kill me when he comes back next week and finds out I'm a girl!"

"Does he love you?"

"Yes. He doesn't say it but I know he loves me. He would kill himself if he hurt me or if it will keep me safe. Believe me, I know. He tells me every time we go out on a mission. Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad? Truth is I'm disappointed but I won't reject you. Love comes in many forms and this is one of them. I just want you to be happy. Don't take away what you love to please me."

"I am happy, mother."

The week flew slowly by for Kurama. The next day Shiori took her shopping to buy new clothes, mainly braziers and underwear. Shiori had many questions for her and she answered them as best he could without giving away too much. She also had many questions about Hiei.

"Like most babies he was abandoned, but a gang of thieves found and raised him. When he was six he left and made a name for himself. When he was fifty he got a Jagan implant to try and find his sister. He hasn't found her yet."

"When did you meet him?"

"When I was twelve in the park. He was injured so I took him home and healed him. He left and I haven't seen him for three years. When he came back was when you were sick. He wanted my help to steal the three Reikai Artifacts with another demon. The Mirror of Utter Dark was what I wanted so I could cure you. We were caught and the other demon was sent to jail and we two became Investigators of the Spirit World with Yusuke and Kuwabara."

Kurama mostly stayed inside during the week, afraid to show her face in public now. Shiori still called her by her human name, but she didn't care. The problem was what to tell Hiei. Her lover would most likely yell at Her because Hiei could never hurt Kurama for any reason. Besides, Kurama was more worried about her flower garden than her life. Hiei had a tendency to set it aflame when he was mad.

She was reading a book on her bed when she heard the tapping on her window. Looking up she saw a black silhouette, white scarf, and blood red eyes drenched in the rain outside. The calm has past and here comes the storm. Putting down the book she walked over to the window and opened it. Hiei jumped in and shook his head, sending water droplets everywhere.

"Hey," said Kurama putting her hands up to shield herself.

"Sorry," said Hiei and sent his energy around the room, drying himself and everything around him. He took off his scarf and cloak to put them on the desk chair and took off his boots, setting them aside. It took Kurama months to get Hiei to do that regularly. Hiei thought it was stupid.

"Why take off your coat and shoes when you're going out again," he had said.

"So you don't get the floor dirty," Kurama said.

"Hn, it's stupid." But he took his shoes and cloak off ever since.

Hiei walked up to Kurama but the latter stopped him. She was afraid on how she was going to go this but she had to tell him before he found out later.

"What's wrong, Kurama?"

Kurama put a hand to her collar and started to unbutton her shirt.

"Don't be mad," she said and opened her shirt

Hiei wasn't mad, he was furious.

"How the hell did you get those," he yelled pointing at her breasts. "What the hell happened?"

"Remember Botan asking for your help on a demon last week?" Hiei nodded. "Well, we were fighting him when he sent a spell and I blocked out. When I woke up I was like this."

"Shuichi!" yelled Shiori coming in the room. Kurama had her shirt buttoned back up. "Shuichi, I heard shouting! Oh! You must be Hiei?"

Hiei looked at Kurama with a glare.

"Well, I kind of had to tell her," she said.

"Everything?"

"Not everything. I left some things out."

Hiei nodded, knowing what Kurama meant. He walked to Shiori and bowed to her.

"It's nice to meet you, Shiori," he said.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done to my boyfriend," said Kurama amazed that Hiei was being nice.

"What? Can't I be nice to her? It is the first time I met her."

"Well, it's nice to meet you too, Hiei," said Shiori. "If you're hungry dinner is ready."

"I am a little hungry, thank you."

They followed Shiori downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Who taught you to be nice," asked Kurama as they walked down.

"Yukina, I figured it might come in handy one day."

They sat down at the table and started eating. They listened to Hiei as he told them about what he did over the month. Train, run errands, and charred a few of Yomi's ambassadors, but mostly kept the two worlds safe. Amazingly Shiori wasn't disgusted by what he does. When Kurama asked why she said, "It's all part of survive. At least in that world. The weak will get stronger and the strong survive, right?"

"Sometimes the weak don't get strong," said Hiei.

Later that night Hiei and Kurama lay in bed, listening to the rain. Kurama kissed Hiei and whispered, "So, what do you say we have some fun while I'm in this body?"

Hiei only smiled and kissed her back

TBC