He seemed to be watching me, for what reason I wasn't sure but I supposed it was due to the fact that I had interrupted him and Shuichi's conversation. Yet, despite his menacing aura he was company. Sometime I found myself speaking to it, just stating what was on my mind never asking for response just feeling better knowing something was there. Then one Tuesday I confronted him. Not sure why but it had occurred to me that this thing had been around for about 3 weeks now and not once had I actually tried to get it to talk to me or addressed it, just spoken randomly about events in my life.

So one day I was sitting on my bed reading "Romeo and Juliet" again when I could feel him. He usually showed up when Shuichi stayed late after school, I don't think he liked having all the other people around, to much noise I suppose. But I wanted to talk to this spirit thing, maybe even get him to talk back…. but the question is what do I say? I mean it's easy to talk about anything when I'm mostly talking to myself but when really talking to him what do I say? Somehow "Hey thing that's been following me around for a while," didn't seem proper. So I said what I thought, "Excuse me, I've noticed you for a while and umm we've never really been properly been introduced. My name is Michiko but I'm sure since you've been around for a while you already know that. I don't know your name though, and since you've been around for a time now I thought maybe we should get acquainted?" The room was silent with only my breathing and the sound of the outside world leaking through my open window.

What I had said bothered it. I could feel it growing angry with me and I tried to keep cool. "I-I'm not a-ff-raid of you." I was, in fact I was terrified to the bone but I tried to stay strong…then I heard it. A small sound that if you breathe to hard you miss completely, and I would have thought I had imagined it if whatever it was left after I heard it. What it said was small and sent shivers down my back. Three words that made me shiver and wrap my self under my covers like a little girl scared of the monster under the bed…

"You should be."

The spirit left after that. Not completely mind you but it never followed me around as it had. I could sense it around Shuichi though; I could feel its eyes on Shuichi watching yet never did Shuichi seemed bothered by it. It bothered me though, more then it should have I guess, I mean after all Shuichi had stated they were friends. That's when I decided, I was going to get some answers whether Shuichi wanted to give them or not.

So that day I went over to his house, I hadn't tried to warn him, I was hoping that maybe I could meet this spirit thing and find out what was going on. I approached the house and saw his window open, a good sign. The door was unlocked, now I was suspicious, this was to familiar to be coincidence but I went in anyway. I could tell the family wasn't home, to quiet. Suddenly I heard a small clinking of glasses in the kitchen and I snuck towards the door and peered in. There was Shuichi, setting teacups onto a small tray then walking back to the counter to retrieve the steaming pot. I could smell the tea from where I was standing, a strong sweet scent that held a flower fragrance. Then I felt coldness behind me an angry coldness that I had never felt before. "What are you doing here," I froze and did what any girl in my situation would do…I screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the small man covered his ears and glared at me, almost a death glare. Glasses crashed in the kitchen and footsteps were coming toward the hall. I was about to scream again when a hand went over my mouth and a familiar voice spoke. "Michiko what are you doing here?" The fact that the hand was bleeding would've killed me if I hadn't already identified it as Shuichi's action. I slowly turned to see the slightly mift Shuichi staring at me. "Funny," came the cold voice I remembered well, "I just asked her the same thing. I was coming down to see what was taking you so long when I noticed her sneaking around." He glared at me then actually had the nerve to smirk at me! He was making me look like a real ass and he was smiling about it! Shuichi removed his hand but kept his eyes on me, I began to panic. "I-I didn't mean to sneak per-say I was, I was I-," "You wanted to find out more then I told you." I stared at Shuichi as he sighed and looked over towards what I guessed was my spirit.

He was smaller then I had imagined and not as gruesome but just as scary. He was wearing a black cape that went to about his knees, and he had a white bandana wrapped around his forehead giving him a very dark look that went well with his pitch-black hair. That wasn't what scared me though… it was his eyes. They were a garnet color that I normally liked but they looked so angry, so mean. They looked like a small fire where an eye should be and not an eye at all. No that doesn't do them justice though. Thinking back that had been what I had first thought but over time I could tell that wasn't what they resembled at all, but that comes later. He noticed my stare and only glared harder and I turned to face Shuichi hoping for comfort in his big green eyes, he was still facing the spirit and I only felt more out of place.

"His name is Hiei," I looked up at Shuichi and stared on in silence as he opened his mouth to continue. "He's not a spirit either," I remembered telling Shuichi that I thought this Hiei person was a spirit and blushed, "He's a fire demon a koorime, and he is my friend." I turned and looked at Hiei, he looked uncomfortable but only shrugged it off and gave a small "Hn," in reply. "Shu-Shuichi, how does one come to befriend a demon?" I glanced over at Hiei who seemed to smirk at my question then back to Shuichi who gave a sigh and looked me square in the face. "I'm a demon as well, a fox demon though. Hiei has been my ally in battle, among other things." The last comment made him blush a little and caused Hiei to gain interest on a ladybug making its way across the hall. "Your…a demon?" I said in a voice that sounded like a mouse squeak and made Shuichi wince. "Yes, and my proper name is Kurama. I'm-" a loud smack echoed down the hallway as my hand made contact with his cheek. "KURAMA? Who are you! You're not Shuichi at all! Shuichi is my best friend, he would never lie to me! Demons are mean creatures not nice, normal people!" As my rant continued I watched Shuichi lower his head and seem to shrink as my remarks lashed out at him like a whip making him lose his confidence.

Hiei saw what was happening and before I knew it I was on the ground with Hiei looming over me giving me the most menacing look he had given yet. "Just shut-up you worthless bitch, and count your blessings I didn't kill you." He was protecting Kurama, I realize that now but at the time I was to frazzled to think. Hiei gave me another look then walked over to Kurama rested his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," Kurama said quietly his eyes still on the ground, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I wanted to but I couldn't out of fear that something like this would happen." He leaned against the wall and raised his head so I could see him from where I was sitting. His eyes looked so sad… he was sorry I could tell and seeing him so sad almost made me wish I could turn back time. Hiei had been standing there with his hand on Kurama's shoulder in silence but he refused to let me get away with what I had done. He let out a low cold laugh, actually more of a snicker and looked up at Kurama. "Why should you explain yourself to this bitch," he looked at me and scowled in disgust then turned back to Kurama. Their eyes locked and I saw an immediate connection.

My mind began wandering…what had Kurama meant by "among other things." Well he already told me he was an ally, a friend but he said it in a manner that implied I didn't know about something. I am still quite embarrassed that it took so long to click; yet after a couple minutes it made sense and I went beat red. "Okay," came my shaky voice as I began to speak out my new found information, "Shuichi, your really a demon named umm… Kurama? Your friend here is a fire demon who just happens to stalk you and…" Well it took a good bit to get the last part out, but I felt so out of place saying it to someone I thought I knew perfectly well, "Your in love with him. I miss anything?" They looked at me with a strange expression, and the last I can remember of the situation was that Kurama made a dive for me as I toppled off the chair I had managed to sit down in. The world went black and that ends that memory.