Alright, people. Here's chapter 2 for you, fresh from my Beta-reader. Hope you enjoy!

Edit: Heh, just fixing a few problems I noticed.



Disclaimer: All the characters in this piece of fiction are the property of their respective owners. So, don't sue me. I'm just a college student with
way too much time on her hands, anyway.
Please read and review. Oh, and don't flame me.

Chapter 2


Warm.

That was how she felt as the edges of sleep fell away from her foggy mind. A small moan escaped her lips as she turned on her side, totally oblivious to anything but the feeling of encapsulating warmth. It'd been so very long since she'd felt like this.

Not since he was here. The thought echoed in her mind, but she ignored it.

Suddenly, the fog covering her memories lifted, sending all the horrid images back to her consciousness full force. The running, the terror, the strange hole, the darkness.

Eye lids slammed open, frantically searching the room she now occupied.

This doesn't . . . I've never . . . where am I? She wondered, pushing herself up in the bed, mentally bracing herself for the pain it would surely cause.

She was rather surprised, however, when she felt nothing but the gentle movement of the mattress. What? I . . . I'm not injured? Throwing the thought of her current environment away, she pushed off the covers and was startled to find the wounds she'd had were now gone.

What's going on?! The gravity of the situation weighed down on her.

It was true she was no longer in the clutches of that retched beast, but what if she were somewhere worse? What if he really had captured her and this was punishment?

Taking a deep breath, she shoved the horrid thoughts from her mind in favor of studying her surroundings.

The room was pleasant enough. It wasn't overly big, but not small, either with a simplicity that immediately calmed her. It also seemed that the room belonged to a man, if the shirt draped over the back of the desk chair was any indication.

I . . . I'm in a man's bedroom?! All thoughts of serenity were banished as she began to tremble. The only time she had ever been in a man's room, in his bed, was when-

Muffled footsteps coming toward the door stopped her thoughts cold. Her eyes frantically whipped over to the door just in time to see a man with shocking red hair enter.

She couldn't contain the scream that fell from her lips.


Kurama yawned, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Really, he didn't have much of a taste for the dark liquid, but he had been up for at least a full day straight and the extra energy it provided was needed.

He wanted to be awake and, at the very least, somewhat coherent when the strange woman awakened. Even though he could sense no hostility from her, falling asleep without speaking to the girl first could be quite dangerous, and he didn't plan on taking the chance.

Taking another drag from the cup, and wrinkling his nose at the terrible taste, he sighed heavily.

What possessed me to bring this girl into my own home? He wondered silently, moving toward his room and back to the girl.

"That's what I want to know, Fox." An indifferent voice asked from his right.

"Good morning, Hiei." The red-head stated, not bothering to actually look up at his companion as he took another sip of his drink.

Noticing the scowl on the normally placid kitsune's face, Hiei moved to stand beside him and accordingly smelled the strong brew in his hands. Pointing, he asked Kurama what it was.

"This," The fox gestured to the cup. "Is coffee."

Quirking an eyebrow as his companion walked toward his room, Hiei silently wondered why he would drink something that obviously tasted so bad. "Why are you inflicting that upon yourself?"

"It will help to keep me awake." He replied simply, continuing toward his room.

Confusion settled on his face for a moment, but he didn't question the red-head. There were some things he would never understand about his cunning friend, this just being one more on the list.

Crimson eyes following Kurama's retreating back, the small demon decided there were more exciting places to be and was about to leave when a skull-splitting scream coming from the Fox's room reached his ears.
Without a second thought, he darted down the hallway.


Kurama was surprised when he opened his door to find the young woman sitting up in his bed staring straight at him. Actually, he wasn't so surprised that she was awake, for he thought he'd felt it earlier, but he was surprised by her eyes.

When he looked into those sanguine depths, he could feel her every emotion. All her fear, her pain, her want of freedom were his as well. One thought rang in his mind as he fell into those fright filled depths, I know those eyes.

Then, she screamed.


"But Koenma-sir, it's not that she doesn't have access to it. It's just not there!" Botan exclaimed, fisting her hands in front of her.

Koenma, who was sitting behind his desk, sighed. One pudgy hand reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose in irritation. He really didn't have time for this. There was a demon in Makai who was becoming extremely worrisome and that was far more important that any human girl, regardless of the fact she had no spirit energy.

"Botan, I understand that, but right now I don't have time to deal with this human girl," He stated indifferently while shuffling some of the papers on his desk. "There are more important things happening in Makai."

Botan huffed, throwing her arms in the air. "But Koenma-sir! She came from Makai!" She exclaimed, her long ponytail flying around like a whip.

Koenma froze, dropping the papers in his palm. Eyes wide with something akin to disbelief shifted up to the blue-haired deity. "Why didn't you say so?!" He snapped, and suddenly regretted it when she flinched.

"I did, sir." She mumbled, turning away from him, deflated.

"Botan," He called, waiting until she turned back to finish. "I want one of the team to keep an eye on this girl, and I suppose since he has spent the most time with her, it should be Kurama."

Threading his fingers together, the toddler's face morphed into a frown of concentration. "I want to know everything about this girl. She might help us find this worrisome demon."

The deity of death nodded, and after producing her oar, she flew off to tell Kurama the news.


Well, that's all for now. And I know this chapter came out quicker than I led y'all to believe, but I swear inspiration hit me out of nowhere and I had to jump at the chance. My muses can be quite fickle. Chapter 3 will be out sometime soon.

And yes, this story is a romance, but don't hatch this up to any certain pairing just yet. You might be surprised.

And it will be a while until I get to the main pairing. I have a lot of background to cover.
Now, do review.
Edit: I forgot to thank my reviewers! Ah, sorry sorry. Anyway, thank you ever so much, and I'm throughly glad you're enjoying this! I'm thank you all personally next update.