Along Came a Kitsune

:Kurama:

Youko

I promise, this will be the last time those change.

Chapter 4: The Ring

Kurama stayed on the bus for a couple minutes longer before he got off at his stop: Rumiko Law and Appraisal.

In the meantime, Youko was raging in his mind. She wouldn't give me her name! Me! It's all your fault, human! Years ago, she would have been begging for me to get in her pants in the time it took to get to her stop.

:Calm down. And don't blame me.: He turned left at the secretary's desk, ignoring her blatant stares. :Like I said before, she probably has a boyfriend, maybe even a husband already. And she wasn't wearing pants.: He recalled she had been wearing a forest green knee-length skirt.

That only makes it worse, human. And no, she isn't married. There wasn't a ring. And if she was in any sort of serious relationship, then the male's scent would have been all over her, he said smugly. In the eye of Kurama's mind, Youko sat smugly with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, practically daring his counterpart to say differently.

:Fine, Youko, you're right. But will you please desist in calling me 'Human'? It's rather annoying.:

Maybe.

The pair was unable to discuss the matter further as a shriek echoed down the hallway. "Minamino, you're late!" Meia verbally assaulted him in full fury. He didn't bother mentioning he was five minutes early. As far as she was concerned, everyone was always late except for her. He calmly waited for her to finish her rant. "—listening to me, Minamino!"

"No," he answered truthfully before walking into his office and shutting the door.

Good job, I have taught you well, Youko praised.

Four to ten days out of every month, Kurama reveled in his high position at Rumiko Law and Appraisal. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that his level of expertise was most likely the reason why the firm was so highly praised and referred to. It was why he had so much more freedom than the other employees. And it was the reason why, no matter how much she threatened to do so, Meia feared the prospect of firing the kitsune in hiding. Of course, this did nothing to improve Youko's huge ego, but the inflation couldn't be helped.

Kurama sat in his cushy chair and picked up the single file on his desk concerning the client he would be expected to see in the next ten minutes. Apparently, a couple was divorcing and while they were dividing up possessions—in a non-too-peaceful manner, he inferred—the question of jewelry had come up. It was decided that they would sell the jewels and split the money, but every person they had been taken to had come up with a cost that varied greatly from the ones previous.

When he heard footsteps approaching his door, he leaped from his chair and was outside of his office before the person could knock. He plastered a pleasant smile on his face. "Why hello, Meia. Would you like to accompany me down to the conference room?" he asked in an amiable tone. He knew it disturbed the woman.

"I'll be there in a minute," said she shortly as she turned on her heel.

When everyone had made their way into one of the large conference rooms, a pair of assistants brought in the jewels in question. Kurama knew right away which ones could be used for a children's dress-up party or were meant to be sold to adults, but he knew that if he didn't put on a show for them, he wouldn't be believed. Slowly enough to irritate a few people, he pulled a key from his suit pocket and turned to an almost invisible compartment behind him. He retrieved a few tools that humans use to judge the value of material possessions and brought them to the table. Individually, he tested each of the jewels and made notes in his notepad here and there.

When he tested each and had added up everything on his notepad, he checked over his algebra, just to make sure everyone was good and annoyed, before he sat back.

"Well?" Meia prompted.

Kurama sat up a little straighter and cleared his throat. "Altogether, the values add up to"—he looked down at his paper to build a little suspense—"One thousand dollars, fifteen hundred at the most."

A startled "What!" sounded throughout the room as the couple sprang from their chairs in outrage.

Kurama quelled their fury with depredating remarks veiled with sugar and honey. When both he and Youko grew bored, he put up their supplies and excused himself, saying he preferred to finish his paperwork for this case in silence.

Now, after a day of dealing with divorces, frauds, and business mergers, he was watering his plants as he prepared to leave for the rest of the day.

An intern poked her head in. "Excuse me, Mr. Minamino…"

Kurama recognized her. She was an aspiring lawyer with great wit and intelligence who had just begun interning a month ago. Unfortunately, like every other female (and some males) she turned to putty at the sight of his. "Yes, Lita?"

"There's a woman here. Kagome Higurashi is her name. She doesn't have an appointment or anything, and you're the only appraiser here right now…"

"Which room is she in?"

"Waiting room, sir. Should I tell her that you're coming?"

"There's no need, I can go right now." Eri nodded and left. Kurama prayed this woman wouldn't prove too frustrating; he just wasn't in the mood today. He went through the familiar labyrinth of hallways and opened one of the doors. The dark-haired woman was facing the television. The weather forecast said to expect sun for the next week, but he never believed that. It was much simpler to rely on Youko's acute senses. "Kagome? Miss, are you Kagome Higurashi?"

At hearing her name, she turned around. Hey, it's her! Maybe she spent her day trying to find us. It's very believable, Youko gloated.

"It's you!"

After a few moments of shock, he led her to his office and pulled out a chair for her. "Fate works in mysterious ways," he said cryptically.

"What do you mean?"

He leaned toward her and let a little of Youko thread through his words. "Despite what you wanted, I now know your name…Kagome Higurashi," he added to stress his point.

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "I didn't come here to be hit on."

"What did you come here for?"

Kagome quickly fished through her purse and retrieved a ring and held it to him with her arm completely outstretched, as if it were a cross and he a vampire. She amused him to no end.

I've seen that before… Said Youko.

:Oh, really: he asked, not really expecting a reply.

I believe I used its partner to torture people when I was bored. Not sure what happened to it though…But I want this one! Get it!

He held out his hand for her to drop the ring into and went about his normal act, this time going slower so he would have time to speak with the maiden. It was a very simple piece, really. It was a braided silver band with a deep red jewel nestled in its center. He sensed a faint youkai aura, though it wasn't nearly enough to make him wonder if it could execute the task Youko had just admitted to.

Said Kurama in a casual manner, "So your name is Kagome, correct? It's a very unique name, very beautiful."

"Thanks."

"What do you do for a living, Kagome?"

"I teach."

"Teach what exactly?"

"A subject."

"Perhaps you could tell me where you work?" he asked, still trying to find out more about Kagome.

"I'd prefer not to," she said shortly.

Kurama raised his head from his act to look her in the eyes. "Why is that, may I ask?"

She met his look squarely. "Because having the bigheaded employee of one of the most successful law firms in all of Japan stalking me is not very high on my list of priorities." She gave him a humorless smile while tilting her head slightly to the side and raised her brows a smidgen. "So is it worth my coming here?"

He allowed her to have the subject revert to the ring. "I'm afraid it's not of much value to humans." She slumped a little in her seat at that. "However…I would like to purchase it from you, if that is alright."

"I would have to ask my mother. She's the one that asked me to bring the ring here. Could I come back tomorrow?"

Kurama saw opportunity knocking. He shook his head. "I'm afraid that wouldn't work out very well. You see, I conduct most business from my home, and am never really sure when I'll be here at the main building. Perhaps I could go to your home or you to mine."

"Where's your house?"

"I'll write down the address." He scrabbled it on a piece of scrap paper and handed it to her.

"I won't be able to come until this weekend."

"That's perfectly alright, Kagome."

"How much do I owe you?"

"It's on the house," he replied. She raised an eyebrow, obviously disbelieving. "I'll walk you out." He was out of his seat and helping her out of hers before she could protest. "I look forward to seeing you soon, Kagome," he said as they reach the main doors. She left hurriedly without a word. Kurama sighed and returned to his office to finished packing up for the day.

"Hello, Kurama," said a jolly voice behind him. Boton. He put on a light coat then turned to face her. "Koenma has a job for all four of you, but you weren't answering your communicator."

"Huh? Oh, yes, sorry about that. I believe I left it at my home."

"No problem! It's nothing life-threatening. Or…not immediately anyways."

"Just open the portal, Boton."

"Righty-o!"

A/N: Well, I lied. The plot won't be starting until chapter 6 now. I was thinking of putting it in here, but I wouldn't have time to finish it then for the next couple of weeks because some of my family is coming down from Wisconsin to go to the beach with us this weekend and I have a couple projects I need to finish. Besides, this is already four pages on Microsoft Word.

The next chapter will be relatively short. Two, maybe three pages long. Hopefully I'll get it out within the next couple of weeks.

Review Responses:

Kill-all-flamers210: Thanks!

Silver: it is a k/k fic.

Dragonsdaughter: You shall see. I don't want to give anything away right now.