Disclaimer: you get it by now. I'm tried of repeating.

I must apologize for the delay. tech difficulties had this on the frits. Thank you for your reviews as well.

Old Friends Reunited

Everything happened in slow-motion for me. I felt as though my body was paralyzed and stuck to the ground. I could only watch as Kurama and Yusuke seemed to run behind me and throw them and me on to the side walk. The whole affair seemed to take hours when in reality it probably took only a few seconds. The car beeped angrily as it came through the red light and sped by. I could hear Yusuke muttering curses as he stood.

"Mitsukai! Are you all right?! " he asked as he and Kurama helped me up off the pavement.

"Y-yeah, just a little shaken up."

"You are positive that nothing is broken?" said Kurama as he looked me up and down, attempting to ensure that nothing was out of place. His attention and concern surprised me and I felt slightly uneasy because of it.

"Nothing's broken, and like I said, I'm FINE."

Everyone kept fussing over me except for Hiei, who said I was a demon and could care for myself (secretly I agreed), and Keiko, who thanked me for saving her. This continued all the way to Genkai's temple. I didn't feel the fuss was necessary and was thankful when Genkai told everyone to knock it off. I found a quiet so that no one would bother me. I had just started to read for a home work assignment when I felt a solitary energy approaching me. I didn't give much thought or attention to the energy because I knew who it was. Kurama appeared a second later holding a tray with two glasses of lemonade on it. He set it aside a few feet away after sitting down next tome and giving me a glass.

"So... um... Did you enjoy school?" he asked cautiously. I knew he was trying to make up for earlier. I looked at him with what he must have taken as a death glare, because he moved away a little. I signed and put down the book.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not familiar with that kind of attention. You were just worried over me. Arigatou," I said. He looked at me and I smiled.

"Well... back to the original question..."he said.

"Yes if you don't count feeling like a total baka, being gazed at as though I was in a zoo, and then nearly being killed by some retarded jerk who couldn't pull his head out of his..."

"I get the message," he said putting his hand in mine. I was kind of surprised but then I let myself lean against his shoulder. We sat quietly in the shade off the temple, enjoying the calming sounds of nature around us.

So peaceful here. Maybe while Kurama and I are alone, I can tell what was bothering me that day in Koenma's office. He seemed... Worried about me, even though he didn't say it.

As if he heard my thoughts, Kurama looked into my eyes, his own reflecting the question I knew was coming.

"I-I don't know if it is my place to ask but the day we met, well... how can I put it..." he began.

"You want to ask me what I was thinking about in Koenma's office, right?"

He looked down, looking a little ashamed. I gently put my hand under his chin, and picked it up so that he would look at me.

"Don't be ashamed to ask me. Because I ... don't feel as nervous around you as I do everyone else. That said, I feel I can tell you everything," I said, hoping to encourage him to ask. I think he knew it might have been painful for me to talk about, because he remained silent. I then did something I had never willingly done before. I wrapped my free arm around him, pulled him close and kissed him full in the mouth. Kurama's eyes bulged in shock and his face turned beet red as he pulled back. I smiled at his reaction.

"Now do you believe me?" I asked, still grinning. He half nodded in response.

"Good. Now I'll tell..."

Suddenly, two familiar energies hit me like a ton of bricks. Two energies I swore I'd probably never sense again. Before Kurama could react, I took off unaware of anything around me.

It can't be... It just can't be! It's utterly impossible...

The dark woods brought back the memory, except this time I was running toward the energies, not away. I reached the clearing I had created and what I saw standing there made me stop dead.

"Hinote?! Yume?! Is it really you?"

hee hee hee... I think I'll stop there. Is it an illusion? Find out next chappie!!