When Hiei woke up the vixen, Kageri was nowhere to be seen. He stood up and saw his katana resting on a new black shirt. He took them both and put them on accordingly. He walked outside and began to look around. "Vixen?" he called. "Kageri." Hiei whirled around to see Kageri sitting on top of the rock. "What are you doing?" Hiei demanded. She smiled. "Come on and look around, it's a nice day." Hiei glanced around. "Hn." he said. "No... take a look, not a glance. Really observe." she said. She jumped down and gently placed her hands on his face. She cupped his eyes so he could only see forward, slowly she turned him all the way around.

The sky was clear red, demonic birds flew through cool breezes, leaves fluttered and skitted across the ground. Grass blades seemed to dance and little demon-dragonflies zipped and zoomed through the air. Tree vines waved back and forth lazily to an unheard song. The sun was shining brightly with a ghastly glow. A childish laughter drifted around his ears... it seemed peaceful.

He snapped to attention and realized the laughter was from Kageri. "What's so funny?" he asked. "You look as if you've never stopped to look around you before." she told him while stifling a giggle. Obviously the look on his face told her he hadn't bothered to, for she asked, "You haven't?" He scoffed. "What for?" Kageri walked back to the rock and plopped back down. She gave a light shrug. "I don't know. But as times rolls on I become more aware of my surroundings." she said softly. Hiei wondered what she meant by 'time rolls on'.

"Why do you play around with nature when you could be stealing. You obviously have the skills." She sighed and replied, "Yes... but it tends to bore when there's no one who can stop you. No thrill, anyway the treasures mean nothing to me. I have a whole storage of my own." Hie iwalked over to her and sat on the ground. "Nice shirt." Hiei looked up at her confused. She gave a light tug to his shirt and repeated the aforesaid compliment. He glanced at his shirt and nearly laughed. Nearly. Not quite, but close. "Thanks." he told her but she shrugged it off.

A cloud of silence fell and hung thick in the air. After a while Kageri asked, "I guess we part now, huh?" Hiei studied her for a moment. She seemed disappointed. Not understanding this Hiei used his Jagan to gently probe into her thoughts. This sucks... even after decadges I long for some kind of companion A half-hearted laugh followed this. When will I stop tempting fate? He has to go, he probably has his own friends in Ningenkai with those Reikai Tantei

"I do not!!" Hiei yelled at her. She blinked at him curiously. "Not what? Not want to part?" As if. Who am I kidding Hiei growled. "I am not 'friends' with the Spirit Detectives." He said plainly and rather harshly. Her eyes widened. "How? My Jagan." he told her. Her eyes widened more. "How dare you read my mind!" she screamed. She jumped off the rock and was jamming her finger at him. "How rude! What I think is my own business!" Hiei stood and yelled back, "So!? How dare you think about me!? What I do and where I go is none of your business!" She scoffed at him. "So what? It's not as if I don't know what you're thinking about me." Hiei was flabber-gasted. "Thinking? I don't think. Especially not about you!" Kageri giggled.

"Of course not. Otherwise you would know I just played you out." she said. I know you're a telepath He read in her mind. "Then why did you start screaming?" She grinned slightly, a few fangs showing and a decietful gealm in her eye. Unknown to Hiei that was her trademark vixen smile. They sat back down, Hiei on the ground leaning his back up against the rock and Kageri in front of him. "Today." Hiei said. "Hm?" He looked at her and smirked. "I'll stay with you. But just today. To make sure my healing holds." Kageri smiled. The lier, he's lying! He knows as well as I he's perfectly healed. But I don't care. I'm no longer alone! He smirked at her. 'Is she that lonely? To take a complete stranger as a companion?' Immortal of age 'That's it! Last night that's what she said,"

Kageri pulled something from her treasure. A small round case made with silver and onyx encrusted in it. She pressed something and her eyes widened. Hiei opened one eye when a soft melody danced into his ears. His other eye opened with a start as she shoved the item into his hands. "What the?" Hiei looked at it. A watch? He held it up, the face showing itself to her. "What is this?" Kageri looked away as if it pained her. "What's your problem?" he had asked her. "It tells time..." she whispered. Hiei frowned. Was this some stupid weakness of hers? "So? What of it?" What a stupid weakness. "It reminds me of the scores. The scores of years I've endured living." Hiei had no idea what she was talking about. Sure, all demons lived a long time. But that was nothing to cry about. "But most demons would want what I have. Immortality of age..." Hiei's eyes widened. "Immortality!?" Kageri nodded. "Around 800 years ago I was placed under a curse that would let me age no further. My strength and wisdom grew but nothing else."

"The only way I can die is for someone to kill me. But, like you, I can't just allow someone to kill me." She sighed. Hidi didn't get it. She had the ability to live forever! If she wanted she could become ruler of Makai. So... why was she sad? "Question, would you like living all by yourself, everyone despising you and wanting you dead, with the only way to get attention is to steal; killing for your own survival against people who would even... deny you even the right to exsist?" Hiei's breath was snagged away. Everything she just said...

Koorime drifted across his mind. A flashback of him being thrown off the floating ice world entered his mind. 'To deny you even the right to exsist....

Kageri smiled as the breeze played with her bangs. It had been three hours since they left thier last night camping ground. Hiei almost smiled. Everything seemed alright. This day would be almost perfect if they hadn't been attacked earlier. However the demon had a short life.

"Can't catch me!" Hiei looked up to see Kageri speeding away. "Cancame?" he asked. "Bet you can't catch me!" she yelled ot him. What kind of challenge is this? He sighed and disappeared. Kageri looked around. Her little game was confusing to him. He looked so innocent when confused. His scent seemed everywhere. She yelped and jumped as two hands clasped around her waist.

When she re-opened her eyes she saw Hiei. "What trickery are you playing at, Vixen?" She smile and lowered her gaze to the ground. "Why did you yelp?" Hiei was holding her off the ground? "You're a fast one." she said. "Hn." She looked at him. He stared back. "Vixen?" he questioned. What was she thinking? Why is she grinning like that? What is she planning? Kageri tilted her head and nuzzled into his chest. Her furry ears brushed against his bare collarbone. Hiei nearly dropped Kageri. "Vixen what are you doing!!?!?!" Kageri blinked up at him. "Nuzzle." she said plainly. Hiei stared at her blankly through his mess of wirey emotions. This 'nuzzle' thing... he had never heard of it nor seen it before, much less experienced it. "It's called 'display of affection'. Nothing bad." Eventually her eyes widened. "You've never... been affectionate?" she asked. Hiei scoffed and put her on her own feet. "I don't need affection." he told her stoutly. He eyes saddened and she hugged him tightly. "Vixen!!?" he yelled. "Shh..." she whispered. He stood there quitely. Slowly using his Jagan he eased into her mind.

How is it... someone like him couldn't have experienced this before? And why do I feel like I have to help him? This isn't like me. Is it possible I just don't want him to experience the pain of being alone?

'Why does she feel sorry for me?' Hiei wanted to know. "I don't want your sympathy," he told her. He could feel her arms wrap around his neck and her chin rest on his shoulder. "It's not sympathy... it's caring." He froze. Did she just say care? She did, didn't she? But why? Has she been pained so much that she could worry about him? "Kageri..." he whispered. "Quiet." she whispered rather harshly. "What?" She raised up and put a light hand over his mouth. "We're being watched."

Hiei looked around. No aura was to be seen, no presence. Kageri's ears flickered around nervously. What is it Hiei asked her telepathically. Hiei, something bad is about to happen... and I can't let you be hurt Hiei stared at her. Did she want him to leave? After he said he would stay? Do you want me to leave He could feel her digging her head into his chest and her nuzzling him.

No, I truly don't. But isn't being alone better than having the ones you care for hurt Their heads jerked up as something in the bushes stirred. Kageri's eyes widened. She pushed herself away from Hiei. He tried to pull her back, he wanted to ask why she had been trembling, why was she still trembling? "Hiei, get out of here. Run and whatever you do... don't look back." Kageri ordered. Hiei's eyes widened then narrowed. He grabbed the hilt of his sword. "KARASU!"

Karasu smiled beneath his metal muzzle. He observed Kageri before even glancing at Hiei. "Another friend?" he asked coyly. Kageri stepped in front of Hiei. "I won't let you kill him!" she yelled. Hiei wondered why Karasu was here. "I told you I would come after you, my little kitsune." Karasu said softly. Kageri clenched her fist and growled. "I'm not your kitsune! Never!" Hiei stared at them. How could Kageri be his? He had seen no mark of claiming on her.

Karasu stared at Kageri. He frowned even though she couldn't see it. "Dear fox return to your original form. I don't like this one." He said plainly. Kageri's eyes widened with fear. "No... I... I won't!!" she yelled. Hiei wondered what Karasu meant by 'original form' and why was Kageri afraid of it?

Kageri ran at Karasu with preperation to attack. "Hiei run from here and get away!" Karasu grinned and waited until she was close enough. Then he spun around and kicked her. He disappeared then reappeared by grabbing Kageri by the neck. He let her dangle and held her close to him. She tried to pull his hands away but couldn't. Hiei stared wide-eyed, not having moved an inch. "Hiei! Are you crazy? Run or he'll kill you!" Kageri yelled at him. Hiei smirked. "HIEI!!" Kageri began to thrash about. She knew Hiei was planning on attacking Karasu. She couldn't let that happen. His ego was going to kill him!

"Go away little Koorime." Karasu mocked the dangling kitsune. He took off his muzzle and grinned wickedly at her. Her eyes widened. "NO! Don't do that!!! Karasu!!! STOP!!!!" Karasu only smiled more at her begging. "You know what I have in here. Now change or I'll force you."

"Force her? Change?" Hiei asked aloud.

Kageri squirmed as Karasu tried to put the muzzle over her mouth. Hiei's insides clenched for some reason unknown to him. He instantly pulled out his sword and charged at Karasu. The crow briefly glanced at Hiei before spin-kicking him back just as he had done to Kageri. Hiei sat up and re-grabbed his sword. The sound he heard pulled his crimson eyes to Kageri. She seemed to be scarcely breathing, pale hands pulled at Karasu's weakly. Hiei's eyes widened. Karasu must have put poison fumes into that mask!

Slowly Kageri opened one eye. Pure fear could be seen on her. Long ago she had stopped kicking about. Was she giving up? Hiei wanted to know. Karasu smiled and said, "Now change my fox. Reveal the true form of Kageri the vixen thief." Kageri choked out a gasp, her eyes opened wide. It was then Hiei realized that her eyes were now gold instead of the innocent blue they had once been. An unnatural wind picked up and blew around Kageri. Not knowing what was going on Hiei pried into Kageri's mind with his Jagan. Hiei run! I... I can't stop it. Please... I can't protect you anymore. Forgive me

Protect him? Forgive her? Run? Can't stop? What was going on!? "Kager--" He went mute as he saw Kageri. What has Karasu done to her? She was... transforming?