For Love of a "Pet"

Chapter Thirteen

Over the next two weeks, nothing happened by the way of enemy demons. Fenrir's brother didn't show his face, Cassie and Hiei went on dates as well as trained, and Kaline continued to take care of Kurama, whose spirit energy had finally returned four days after the fireworks display.

Since he was completely healthy once again, Kurama began planning his escape. He figured he could cut the screen for one of the basement windows to look like her beloved pet had escaped that way, then he could transform into his human form and walk right out the front door.

His chance to implement his plan didn't come until Kaline had to go to the grocery store. She sweetly explained to him where she was going and why, asking him to be good while she was gone. He just nuzzled her hand in response to her little speech.

The instant Kaline was gone, he set about putting his plan into action. He went downstairs, finding the window that always seemed to be open. A few swipes of his claws later, there was a rather large hole in the wire mesh screen. Once that was done, he stood in the middle of the floor and summoned his spirit energy.

Within moments, he was in his human form once again. He reached up and ran his hand through his red locks, a small smile on his face. "I missed this," he whispered to himself as he looked at his fingers. "I missed being human."

Kurama stretched, adjusting to his body. As soon as he felt completely comfortable, he walked up the stairs, out the front door, and straight into Hiei.

"Sorry, Hiei. I was not expecting you to be there," the redhead stated as he closed the door behind him. "What are you doing here, though?"

"Kaline left, so I was going to talk to you for a while," the fire demon replied. "Do you know anything about a giant black wolf demon?"

Shaking his head, Kurama walked with his friend away from Kaline's house. "No. Is there any reason I should?"

Hiei shrugged. "He attacked me a few weeks ago, and I don't know why. It didn't make any sense."

The kitsune thought for a while. "I'm not sure. It's possible that he had something to do with Loki, and a group of demons is targeting the spirit detectives."

"Neither Yusuke nor the bumbling idiot have been attacked," the koorime informed his friend. "And the demon mentioned his brother seeking revenge."

"I have a feeling that the brother has not shown up yet, has he?" Kurama inquired.

"No." Hiei continued to walk around the neighborhood with the fox demon. "And that just doesn't seem right."

They continued to talk, losing track of time. After an hour passed, Kurama finally noticed how long he had spent away from Kaline.

'She's probably back from her shopping trip, so now would probably be a good time to visit her,' the redhead thought. "Hiei, is there anything else you need to tell or ask me?"

"What do you know of the Siren Sword?" he asked.

Kurama shook his head. "Nothing. I've never even heard of it." He paused. "Why do you ask?"

"Cassie has it." Hiei looked up at the sky.

"Very well. If that is all, then I'm going to be going now." The kitsune began to walk off.

The fire demon studied the retreating from of his friend. "Where are you going?"

Kurama smiled. "Kaline's."




"Youko! I'm back!" Kaline called out as she set her groceries on the kitchen table, expecting the little fox to come running up to her. He didn't. "Youko? Come here, boy!" Her voice was louder that time. "Youko?"

Frowning, she began to search her house, shouting for the fox. As she searched and no little animal showed up, her worry level rose to its highest point. "Youko?!"

Kaline took a deep, calming breath as she searched the last inch of the house. 'Okay, he isn't in the house. If he isn't here, then how'd he get out?'

She checked all the doors and windows, finding the screen on her basement window ripped open. "Kuso," she snapped, stomping her foot. Her anger quickly receded though, giving way once again to her worry. She needed to find Youko; she just had to.

Racing upstairs, she picked up a phone and dialed. After three rings, Cassie answered.

~Hello,~

"Cassie, it's Kaline. Youko's gone," Kaline quickly told her friend, her tone laced with worry.

~What?!~ the girl exclaimed, surprised beyond belief. ~But how?~

"He cut a hole in a screen," she answered, sounding as if she was on the verge of panicking. 'I don't know how or why, but he did.' "Can you come here and help me look for him?"

~I'll be there in fifteen minutes.~ The dark brunette sounded worried as well. ~And I'll see if I can recruit Hiei sometime today.~

"Thanks. I'll see you soon. Bye."

~Bye.~ Cassie hung up, and Kaline was quick to follow suit.

Less than a minute later, she was out the door and almost frantically searching for the fox. She called out the fox's name a few times, hoping that he hadn't wandered far. He obviously had, because he didn't respond.

Her creative mind coming up with all kinds of horrible things, Kaline continued to look for her charge. She walked down the street, checking under bushes and calling out his name. Still, no fox. She was slowing beginning to leave the realm of panic and head into uncharted territory.

'I've never lost a patient. No animal has ever run away from me before. What happened? Where is he? Is he still alive?' She shook her head to clear it of unwanted thoughts. 'No. I won't think like that. Youko is alive. He's around here somewhere. I'm sure that I'll find him.'

"Youko!" Kaline shouted, praying as she did so. She waited for a moment, her heart beating fast. "Nothing," she muttered. "He must have gotten farther away than I thought." Giving a dejected sigh, she continued on her search.

After ten minutes later, a car pulled up beside her. "Hey, Kaline!" Cassie's voice flooded the air, a calm, clear sound. "Where have you looked so far?"

Kaline looked over at her friend. "I've searched Sunset Drive and Oak Street. If you could hit all the roads on the other side of my house, I'd really appreciate it."

"Sure thing." After rolling back up her window, Cassie drove off.

The gray-blue eyed girl continued to search for the silver fox as two demons watched her from the rooftops.

"She's looking for you?" Hiei asked, his eyes on the young girl. 'She looks like she's about to panic. I never thought anyone could be so worried about a simple little creature.'

"It seems that way. I did not expect her to become so worried," Kurama replied. "I think I should go down and soothe her." 'This isn't exactly the way I want to introduce myself, but I hate seeing her like this.'

"Hn." The fire demon crossed his arms. "You are a fool."

"Maybe. Maybe not." With that said, the kitsune leapt down to the ground in one graceful move. Then, he ran to catch up with the girl, leaving the koorime behind.

"Kaline!" he shouted, coming up to walk beside her.

"Oh my... dear Kami!" Kaline went deathly pale upon seeing him, her eyes so wide he could the whites all around her iris. "Kurama..." She shook her head, refusing to trust her eyes. It was impossible for someone from her dreams to come to life... completely impossible. "I don't believe it. How is this possible? This can't be happening. It just can't!" Her mind was going a million miles an hour, threatening to give her a massive headache. 'It's official. I've gone nuts. I'm having hallucinations. Cassie needs to call the insane asylum and have them send the white truck to pick me up. By tomorrow morning, I'll be in a little padded room with a straight jacket on. I'll be put on some kind of medication.'

"Are you okay?" Kurama asked, smoothing some of her hair away from her face. 'I like her better when she's smiling.'

'Kurama's touching me, so unless I'm really, really hallucinating big time, he actually exists. I don't know how it's possible, but... he's real. He is completely and truly real. I can feel the warmth from his hands.' "What's going on, Kurama?" she asked, voice shaky. Before he could say a word, she began to talk again. "Never mind. You can explain things to me later. Now, do you think that you could do me a favor?" 'Youko comes before my problems with this guy. Besides, I don't think on it, I won't worry about it. For the time being, I just ignore the fact that Kurama's not suppose to exist and deal with the here and now.'

"Sure." He nodded his head, his green eyes sincere. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

"I'm looking for a silver fox. Can you please help me search for him?!" she pleaded, hands clasped together as if she was praying.

Kurama gave her a small smile. "I'd be more than happy to." 'How strange... I'm helping her look for myself. Things are never boring with her.'

"Thank you!" Kaline gave him a quick hug and kiss, just like she would have in any dream. He felt perfectly real and solid when she touched him. 'He smells and tastes the same as he does in my dreams.' "If you will look over in that direction, then I can take this one." She pointed in one direction, then a different one. "We'll cover more ground if we split up. Meet back at my place in an hour, okay?"

"Sure. Your place in an hour," he repeated, nodding his head.

She thanked him again and then went back to her searching, calling out the fox's name every so often. Once she was out of view, Hiei appeared in front of Kurama.

"What are you going to do now, kitsune?" the fire demon asked, humor in his voice. 'He has put himself in the most unusual position I have ever seen. I want to see what he's going to do.'

"Well, I'm going to reassume my fox form, and you're going to take me to Kaline's house and wait for her to show up," he answered after a moment, voice firm.

"What about Loki?" Hiei inquired, frowning. 'Work is supposed to come before play, not the other way around. Kurama is placing this girl before his job as a spirit detective.'

Kurama shrugged. "I've told you everything I know about him, and we can't do anything about the enemy until he shows himself again. Right now, it can't hurt if I stay with Kaline. If Loki makes an appearance, then I'll just change and fight him." The plan sounded simple enough to him.

"You are being foolish," he commented. "That girl has changed you." 'Of course, I really don't have a right to say things like that.'

"Maybe," the redhead answered simply. "But I do not believe you should be talking. What about you and Cassie?"

"Hn. That is none of your business, kitsune," the fire demon retorted, red eyes narrowing in annoyance. 'He is too smart for his own good.'

Kurama chuckled softly, knowing that he had won the argument. "Will you take me to Kaline's place?"

Hiei rolled his eyes, but he did eventually nod his head. "If you're going to willingly make a fool of yourself, then I don't see why I should stop you." 'Besides, it'll give me something to laugh at besides the baka.'

"Thank you." The redhead summoned up his power, twisting it around his body until he was a silver fox once again. He yipped once, telling the fire demon to pick him up.

The black-haired male lifted the fox into his arms. "Kurama, you owe me."

'I know,' Kurama mentally replied, not caring in the least. He was going to continue to stay with Kaline and that was all that mattered.

"Good." Then, the fire demon raced off to Kaline's house.




Cassie sighed as she checked her watch. It was becoming late, and she had no clue how the others were doing. 'Maybe they've already found him. I sure hope so, because I seriously doubt that he went this way. Derek's house isn't that far from here, and animals somehow seem to know that he's dangerous and stay away.' She silently laughed. 'Obviously they have more sense than humans or demons do.'

With a small sigh, she decided to go back to Kaline's. If the fox had been found, then someone would be there. If Youko was still missing, then the house would be empty. She really, really hoped that someone was at the house.

Calling out for the fox one last time, she climbed back into her car and drove back to Kaline's.




"Hey! Is anyone there?" Cassie shouted, although she already knew the answer. She could sense two demons. One demon's energy felt familiar; the other's did not.

"Cassie," Hiei replied, his voice coming from the living room. "I have Youko."

"Awesome!" she exclaimed happily, taking off her muddy shoes and leaving them by the door. "Who's with you though?"

"No one," he answered immediately.

Frowning, Cassie entered the living room, finding only the fire demon and the fox in there. The unfamiliar energy that she sensed was coming from the fox. "He's a demon..." the dark brunette stated as she stared down at the tiny animal. "Youko is a demon." She blinked in surprised. "How is that possible?"

'Hiei, do something!' Kurama mentally ordered. 'She'll tell Kaline!'

The fire demon silently sighed. "Cassie..." He drifted off, trying to think of anything to say. In the end, he resorted to his old threat. "Say anything to Kaline and you die."

She raised an eyebrow at that, seemingly unfazed. 'That was one of the most pathetic threats I have ever heard... especially since there was no feeling behind it. He was just going through the motions.' "Riiight. You're obviously a good demon, or at least you fight on Koenma's side, which means that you can't kill innocent people."

"Humans," he corrected.

Cassie shrugged. "My family received Koenma's permission to be here a long time ago. We're on his side, which means that you can't kill me without pissing him off." She smiled triumphantly. "Now, I want an explanation. What's the deal with the fox?"

Hiei fidgeted for a moment. 'That girl is too good at arguing with me.' "I'll explain after we leave." He didn't want Kaline to walk in and overhear everything he was going to tell Cassie. "This is for your ears only at the moment."

"Okay. Fine. I'll hold you to your word." She sat down next to the fire demon and patted the fox lightly on the head. "Don't think that I won't."

"Trust me, I expect you to make me keep my promise," he replied.









CotA: Yea! Another chapter! Aren't you people so proud of me? And I have one or two more completely written. I should be posting them soon.

Yanou: Estoy bien tambien. Gracias. Sorry, but I don't speak all that much Spanish. I can read it better than I write it. And as for his low spirit energy, well, I explain it in the next chapter, so... yes, wait and see. I'm so evil. *grins*

Rei Akita: Thanks.

Kuramalover321: 10 out of 10? Wow... I didn't think it was that good. I just kinda go the idea for this whole thing from the stuffed fox I bought at the world famous san diego zoo. Not bad, huh?

Bijin-chan: I've missed you too!! *huggles Bijin-chan* And you know that I'm going to update soon, especially since I have at least one more chapter completely done. :)

Luraia Soul: I'm bad at remembering things too. I'm not sure why though.

PWA: It is hard to imagine, but that's okay. I did enjoy writing it. ^_^