I know it's been a while, but hopefully you guys are still reading! I love the reviews I've got, thank you so much! Now that I have my computer fixed (yeah, that a lot of what took so long) I should be able to get back to writing regular again. I'm still working on Kurama's Holiday Horrors (Kai's in that one, too, if you like her) and after that one is finished I'm going to wrap up A Little Misunderstanding, then I'm free to play with this one a little... or get back to The Secrets Revealed. In any case, start watching for updates again, they are coming!

Note: NO! I'm not planning to have Kai and Kurama paired up later! Kai will prolly never be paired with anyone (unless it's another OC)! She is not a "fangirl fantasy" and I'd like to thank the reviewer who pointed that out!

I own nothing. Enjoy!

"What is your business here?" the redhead asked in a rather menacing tone. The whispering in the bushes had stopped. The hissing of snakes in the tree tops had come to a halt as well. It seemed as if every sound, even that of the wind, had ceased as soon as this boy had spoken.

' Somethin' screwy goin' on here. The hell do they know that I don't?' Kairi thought. This boy looked like a normal human, but there was something peculiar about him. First off, he'd said demons, in the plural form... Now it was pretty darn clear that Bat-boy was a demon, but how did this boy know that she was? She would have given this more thought, but a certain bat started to struggle, trying desperately to escape his belt-leash.

"Would you kindly hold still for a damned minute?" she huffed at the bat, tightening her grip on the slotted end of the belt.

"NO! Baldok hates fox! Him hurts Baldok before! Baldok wants to go home! GACKT-"

The demon's protests were cut short when he tried to turn and run. Kairi gave her end of the belt a sharp tug, causing the loop around his neck to tighten, having much the same effect as a "choke collar" might have on an unruly dog. The redhead watched this display with the same cold eyes, but there was clearly a hint of curiosity in them now. He wanted to know what the hell was going on here, too. At least Kairi was no longer the only one here out of the loop...

"Whattya mean fox?"

"Him-," Baldok choked out, pointing at Kurama. Kairi loosened the holds just a little, so he could tell what he knew. "Spirit fox. He ties up Baldok with vines and leaves him! And vines have thorns!" He continued to whine as he rubbed his arms, as if remembering some trauma that had been inflicted upon them. Upon closer inspection, Kairi noticed that there were tiny dots on them where the skin was darker. Scars. Must've been where the aforementioned thorns were.

The boy mostly maintained his poker face, but the corners of his mouth had turned upward, ever so slightly. Kairi took this as a sign that he was proud of his handy-work. She was starting to sport a small grin herself, watching the poor bat's shenanigans.

"You wanna tell me how that is supposed to be a spirit fox? Looks to me like he's missin' a few things; pointy ears, bushy tail, demon body in general..." Although she sounded as if she was mocking the bat, and the boy for that matter, she wasn't so skeptical. His eyes had made her wonder from the start. She hated humans, and she had encountered some very despicable ones, but there were some degrees of cold-heartedness reserved only for demons, and the chill in those emeralds qualified.

The bat continued to struggle, obviously not wanting to stay long enough to answer any more questions. Kurama watched it all very carefully, trying to figure out what this situation was. Upon first arriving, he had thought that this may be another attempt on his life. He had already encountered one assassin earlier this week. With the tournament right around the corner, the low-class demons, who couldn't beat those of his rank fairly, had been trying to find other ways of "eliminating the competition." His nose told him that this girl had just come from Makai, just like the last one who was sent for him, but she was very different.

She didn't know the slightest bit about him, for starters. The last demon who had come looking for him had known details; where to find him; what he looked like; who he really was... She didn't even know what he was, let alone who he was. But if she wasn't here for him, then why was she here? One so weak would not have ventured to this world without a compelling reason...

He couldn't sense even the slightest bit of attack energy coming from her. He could barely sense her energy at all. In all honesty, from what he could tell, the girl seemed weaker than even a normal human! But that couldn't be! How could something so weak have dragged Baldok here against his will? And why drag him here against his will? Too many things were not right. He decided to play it cautious until some of his questions were answered.

The bat continued to argue with the girl, fighting for his freedom all the while. It seemed that every time he started to gain some ground, a good yank on that belt brought him right back. Finally, Kurama's near endless supply of patience was being tested. They were either going to answer him, fight, or flee. Anything was better than watching this game of tug-of-war all night.

"If you don't mind demons, I have better things to do with my night than stand here and watch you squabble. Tell me what your business is here or I will have to assume that it is something of foul intent, and trust me," he narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice as he continued to speak, "you do not want me to make that assumption."

The bat had stopped struggling as soon as the boy had began to speak, and was now sitting beside Kairi, as if he could go anywhere else, in somewhat of an Indian-style position. When the boy was through, his gulping noise pulled Kairi's attention back to him, and she planted a stiletto heel in his hip.

"OW! What that for?"

"That'll keep you still."

"You lies! You said Baldok wouldn't get hurt!"

"Baldok said he'd cooperate."

"Baldok said he'd help human gir- ACK!" She sank the heel into his hip. Not enough to break the skin, but enough to let him know it was there. "Help girl find old woman's house! Girl never told him anything about foxes!"

"Baldok never told girl about foxes."

"Baldok quits! HUMPH! Girl can find old woman and brother on her own!" With that, he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his nose up in the air.

"Brother?" The redhead's cold eyes seemed to thaw. Kairi could practically see wheels turning in his head now. How much did he know? Too much. She knew that. She hadn't wanted anyone with a human body to know why she was here. Not for her own sake, but for Touya's. It was common sense that a demon as strong as he was would not be welcome on this side of the tracks. King Yama despised demons altogether, and the more dangerous they were, the more he wanted them dead, but he left them alone as long as they stayed in their world. If he found Touya here... Well... It wouldn't be good. But if this boy was what Baldok said he was...

The redhead took a step forward, and the bat lost all composure.

"Please! Don't hurt Baldok! He has three thousand mouths to feed! And little Timi has a broken wing and he may never be able to fly again!" The boy got closer, one step at a time. "Baldok goes out and brings food back for him, and he keeps him safe and sings to him," he nodded frantically with this statement, as if that might make the fox buy it. No dice. He kept walking. Expressionless. Hands in his pockets.

Kairi watched every move. If he went to attack, she was ready to get the hell out of dodge and retaliate quick with her daggers. Hopefully, she could sink one in his throat before he knew that she had them. She had already curled her free hand to produce her weapon, and, unbeknownst to this fox, she had already mapped out her dodging path, before he had even spoke. The bushes to her right, the side where Baldok was, were a mere 5 feet away, but to her left, there was plenty of room. With this boy facing her, going left would put her beside his jugular vein. She only had to get out of his way and then throw quick.

But she hoped it wouldn't come to that. Every confrontation was hazardous to a girl this weak. There were never any guarantees that a potential victim would drop their guard long enough. And if her first strike failed, they would know not to let it down again. There was no way she could beat a real fighter in a fair fight.

So she silently prayed that it wouldn't come to that...

"Baldok works hard to keep little ones fed and safe and sound! And sometimes Baldok gets tired but he knows that little ones look up to Baldok so he must be strong for them and then, uh...," He started to stutter as the fox got within striking distance, then, he was no more than 5 feet away! His face still never changed. He turned his gaze to Kairi, who, aside from rolling her eyes once at the bat's pleas, hadn't shifted her gaze from him once.

"Let him go."

"Come again?"

"Let him go. If it is Genkai you seek, I can lead you. But first, I want to know what finding her has to do with a brother."

"And what do you know of Genkai?"

"I am one of her pupils, you could say."

"A pupil? Then would you happen to know of her other pupils?"

"Yes. All those she has recently assisted, anyway."

"Is it true? You're a spirit fox?"

"I was. I have since come to lead a human life."

"How?"

"Long story."

She gave up. She wasn't even going to try to figure this out. But she sensed something change about him. He didn't seem half as frightening now, And though he was still eyeing her with suspicion, he didn't seem that he was going to be a threat if she didn't provoke him, and she had no intentions on doing that! She decided to go out on a limb. She wouldn't tell him enough to endanger Touya, just enough to see what he already knew.

"Forget it," she said, waving her hands in an "I don't wanna know" fashion. "If you know Genkai's students, have you met one named Touya?"

"Touya!" His eyes widened. She took that as a yes. "Don't tell me he's your brother! He's an ice apparition, you're a ... what are you anyway?"

"A sea nymph." Her response made an eyebrow arch. "He's a half brother." He looked ready to lay on with the questions again. She grinned as smug as she could, folding her arms across her chest. "Long story."

That was all it took. Kurama was still utterly confused as to how this could be, but there was no doubt in his mind that this girl spoke truth. He could see that much in her eyes. There wasn't the slightest hint of a lie in them or in her voice, though there was quite a bit of attitude. It was that attitude, though, that told the tale. He'd seen that smirk a thousand times over. The first time had been in the ring at the Dark Tournament, when Touya had said they should cease with the conversation, since he knew that he was simply trying to buy time for that seal to wear off. Since then, he had encountered it every time Touya bested him while they were sparring, or caught him trying to be sly during a game of Chess.

Kurama gave a small grin. "So, what is your name?"

The girl looked up, after slipping the buckle down the length of the belt, releasing her hostage. "Kairi. You?"

"Kurama."

I know it was long and tense, but, this is Kurama we're talking about! We all know he's not dumb enough to walk up and invite some strange demon fresh outta Makai to come to Sunday Supper at his house or something. I also thought he would be the best to use since he knows Touya the best. Anyway, whatcha think? Still with me?