Chapter 3: Kurama's Decision

Kurama couldn't remember how he got back to the park that night. He was vaguely aware of settling in the tree that had become his customary spot just as the last traces of the sun vanished from the sky. He was strangely elated and couldn't keep his mind from drifting. He'd kissed her. It had been in no way brief either. Kurama shuddered. Her soft lips, so warm against his own… That was the last thought to float through his head before he drifted off to sleep.

The fox demon was walking through the streets, chasing a girl he could barely see in the huge crowds of people. Occasionally she would stop and wait for him, starting to walk again just when he thought he'd caught her. He ran up and caught the girl's arm, pulled her around, and saw Rena's familiar sultry gaze. He swept her into his arms and kissed her in the middle of the street, uncaring of the people bustling on either side of him. She pulled away from him and Kurama stared instead into Akiko's glaring eyes. She shoved him backward before vanishing into the crowd.

He started after her, but a bright light around him changed the scene to a desert wasteland. A lone figure stood in the distance and Kurama hurried to him. Kuronue's familiar aura enveloped him as his friend turned, startling the fox with his malevolent glare. Behind him, he saw Rena and Akiko glaring as well.

The fox demon awoke with a start. Bright sunlight temporarily blinded him as Kurama sat up. What had that dream been about? The memory of Kuronue's hateful look tore at his mind as he hunted his breakfast. He was so enveloped in his thoughts he didn't notice the scent of human until it was upon him.

"You!"

Kurama looked up and saw Akiko stomping toward him. Her face looked just like in his dream; angry and murderous.

"You! Where do you get off in ditching me?" She was close enough that the fox demon began to worry for his health and stood up. "I was just trying to help you get it straight in the city, and that's how you repay me?" Akiko mustered all her wrath into a death glare.

"I…" He didn't know how to explain he'd run off with Rena and her friend. Kurama stared at the ground, a surprising feeling of guilt washing over him. He'd been too weak to resist his own longing and had run off with a girl, he wanted to yell, but he kept his tongue and continued to observe a bug crawling toward him.

"So, that's what you have to say is it?" Akiko glowered at him, her eyes narrowed at his attempted apology. Kurama remained silent. "A nice way to show your gratitude." She turned to go, but not before slapping him hard across the face. The demon sputtered and found his voice for the first time.

"You little…that's not how it went!" Kurama grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. The look in her eyes startled him. She wasn't scared of him, or even angry. "Listen. I didn't mean to leave you like that. It's just…" he broke off, then decided he had to continue. "Rena made me an offer I couldn't refuse." His gaze dropped to the ground. Man he was staring at it a lot! Akiko pulled out of his grasp and took a step back.

"What exactly did she want?" Akiko asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. The guilty look in Kurama's eyes told her everything she needed to know. "I thought demons were stronger than humans," she muttered angrily. "If that's all the self control you have, I hate to see what you'd be like if she really made you an offer." Akiko stormed away, shooting dark glares back over her shoulder at the fox, who slumped on the bench beside him.

"Damn," he complained to himself. She was right, he was weak. Strong with swords but weak against people. Kurama cursed again as he thought of what Kuronue would have said in Akiko's place. "I'm never falling for her tricks again," the fox vowed silently, shaking any thoughts of Rena from his mind. "Not again."

Kurama spent the rest of the day drifting in and out of awareness. When he thought back to it, he vaguely remembered Akiko returning to the park that evening, ignoring him as she continued her usual duties. He didn't really pay any attention to her, the memory of her angry face still fresh in his mind. Maybe it had been his fault. He knew himself it was, but the thought of apologizing to Akiko after she'd yelled at him was appalling.

Night set in the same as it did every other day. He'd been in the human world for two days now. Kurama wondered what Kuronue had done when he found out his companion was gone. He might have gone back to Hyoga for advice, or tried to follow him. The demon sighed and tried not to think about Kuronue or the demon world. It was likely that he'd never see either of them again.

A bird chirped in the distance and Kurama lifted his head. He recognized a scent, drifting in the wind toward him. The fox cursed as he recognized Rena's familiar perfume. What did that vixen want? She'd gotten him into enough trouble as it was. She approached, and he began to feel his annoyance at her presence start to diminish. Her scent was so alluring… Damn he was falling for her again! Kurama watched through the tree branches as she stopped and sat on the bench, carrying herself in a way as though she knew someone was watching.

"That little…" Kurama growled to himself, but he couldn't say anything else for fear he would be overheard. He inhaled and breathed in her sweet scent. Man she was beautiful! The fox felt it more and more difficult to control his breathing, which was beginning to shorten. He noticed his heart start to speed up and tore his eyes away, instead focusing on a bird in the distance, though he allowed his sensitive nose to continue following her scent. Kurama cursed again. This self-control would kill him.

After plugging his nose and ears Kurama waited, trying to focus on that bird in the next tree. He couldn't smell Rena and could only hear if he strained. It amazed him how much calmer he was without the distractions of his other senses. The demon chanced a look down and was surprised to find Rena gone. Startled, he tuned in his senses and immediately relocated her scent. It smelled like she was…

"Hi!"

Kurama almost fell out of the tree. Glancing down, he saw Rena looking up at him, a look of mixed confusion and amusement in her eyes. His gaze dropped a little lower and he felt his jaw drop. He could see down her shirt…Kurama did fall out of the tree.

Saved by his demon reflexes, the startled fox demon landed in front of Rena on his feet. She giggled at his clumsy movements and he brushed himself off as though he'd done an ordinary thing. He flicked his bangs from his eyes and felt a trace of panic as he remembered his ears and tail were showing. Rena didn't notice, or didn't care, and she motioned to sit down on the bench. Not sure what to do, Kurama followed, aware that it was fairly late and that Akiko had already made her rounds, meaning there wasn't supposed to be anyone else in the park. Rena seemed to know this herself and had a self-satisfied smirk that reflected it.

"They weren't going to let me in," she began, "but I'm smarter than some park ranger." Rena slid along the bench until she was next to Kurama. "Even Akiko tried to stop me."

For once the fox didn't know what to say and tried not to notice Rena's hand on his arm. She had to be here for something. Kurama's opinion was that she had just wanted to see him again. But maybe… His heart skipped as another idea entered his head, though it was much more appealing. Something Akiko said drifted back through his mind: "I hate to see what you'd be like if she really made you an offer." He couldn't…not with her…she was human… But despite his noble thoughts that feeling of longing was tearing at him again.

"You know," Rena whispered, "we're the only ones here."

Kurama was already aware of that and wasn't sure if he should be happy or not about it. He knew in the back of his mind that he had to get away from her or he'd fall apart. "Rena," he began, then sighed heavily, "I can't do this."

"What do you mean?" she asked hurriedly. Was he refusing her? No, that couldn't be it, no man could resist her. "What's wrong?"

The demon stood up, and Rena jumped to her feet. The fox demon held his hands up to forestall her approach. "Rena, last night was a mistake. I can't be with you. Just leave me alone. Please," he added. He couldn't believe he was doing this.

Rena just gaped at him for a moment, not sure she heard properly. He couldn't mean that. It was probably just a trick. Yes, that's what it was. Rena took a couple steps toward him and snuck past his hands to kiss him. Kurama went tense and his mind went blank like it did before. But this time, a single thought remained, swirling around in his brain until he couldn't bear it and pulled away.

"I told you Rena," he insisted, pushing her away, "I can't be with you."

She stared blankly at him for a few moments in which Kurama prayed before turning on her heel and storming away from him. She'd give him the night. By morning he'd be begging to have her back. The fox demon breathed a sigh of relief when Rena was far enough away that she wouldn't hear. His discipline had been running thin.

"That was a very noble thing you just did," Akiko spoke up from behind him. She chuckled as Kurama spun around, startled that someone could slip by his senses. "I followed Rena after I saw her sneak in here."

For a second the fox wanted to yell at her, curse her for spying on him, but at the moment none of those malevolent thoughts took form. He was somehow happy to see her, and even more so not angry. She looked forgiving.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow Kurama."

There was an awkward pause as Akiko and Kurama gazed at each other. He thought there was something like a mutual agreement between them not to mention the incident. Turning to go, Akiko waved over her shoulder and started down the path. The demon watched until she was lost in the darkness, which he suddenly became aware of. He'd had no idea it was getting so late.

"I'll see you tomorrow…Akiko."

(is starting to realize how worthless and OOC this is) Yeah well...I guess i can't say anything in my defense...