The room was warm. Sweet scented with roses. As was every other room in the house. This one special room had been made up just for Kuronue though.
The bed sheets had recently been washed and dyed to give a fresh glow to them. It was warm as soon as you lay down. Which complemented the slightly chilly fall weather. The walls were painted with a dark violet color. The floor was wooden and dark. With beautiful decorated rugs giving a warm glow to the room. There was but one window, a purple velvet curtain laced in white was drawn.
And one thing caught the bat demon's attention. A music box was open on the sill. Golden and glistening in the sun, with a flower on the top of the lid.
It sparked Kuronue's curiosity, so he opened it. He almost jumped when he heard a small tune come out of it.
"What the…?"
A tune that he recalled being called "To Ra Lo Ra Lo Ra" Which he was told was a popular human lullaby in some place called I' Land. Whatever that was…
"Hey…you found the music box." Kurama came from behind Kuronue, surprising him.
"Huh…? Oh…well…yeah." Kuronue closed it and then turned to Kurama.
"Like your room?" Kurama asked setting down his suitcase.
"Yeah…it's great Kurama…really." Kuronue looked around again. For some reason he could'ent shake the feeling of being watched. "Hey…do you…feel that too?" Kurama raised and eyebrow.
"Yes…it feels like-"
"Someone's watching us…"
"…Yes…" Kurama finished. "Come on…let's go for a walk…"
The park was cold. And the leaves were going everywhere. Kurama found it peaceful. Kuronue found it strange.
"…So the leaves fall like this…all the time?" Kuronue asked catching a leaf and turning it gently in his hand.
"Yes, it's why they call it fall in many places." Kurama sat down on a park bench and looked up in the trees.
"…He's up there…isn't he?" Kuronue said in a half whisper. Kurama nodded.
"Stay here." Kurama said softly and jumped up in the tree before Kuronue could protest.
"Kurama! Wait!" Kuronue looked up and instantly took out a small dagger.
"Ow! Hey!" Kuronue heard a man's voice come from the tree. Then something falls from it. It looked like a pendent. Kuronue raised an eyebrow and ran over to it and picked it up. An emerald on a gold chain.
"Hey, back off!" Then Kuronue saw Kurama fall from the tree, landing in a bush.
"Kurama?" Kuronue ran over. "You okay? Who the hell-"
The man jumped down from the tree. He had on faded jeans, and a black leather jacket that fit slim around his small waist. His eyes were a bright purple and his hair was red, down to just his neck.
"Well…thanks for the friendly greeting Monsieur Kurama…" The man laughed and extended a hand toward Kurama. Kuronue growled and without thinking stuffed the green pendent in his pocket.
Kurama gave a glare and stood up on his own.
"Who are you and why have you been spying on us?" Kurama asked. The man let down his hand and sighed.
"I really wished you weren't going to call it 'Spying' more like watching…it sounds a little bit crude to say spying…"
"Cut the Bullshit and tell us who and what you are." Kuronue walked up to him and looked up and down at him.
The man sighed and smiled. "You really don't remember do you?"
"Remember what?" Kurama asked getting slightly annoyed.
"I guess not…my name is Monsieur Hurlock. I used to be bandits in your toupee in France…before you both went soft." The man laughed. "Remember? 720? That year…what a year…you were a crazy basterd Yoko and Kuronue."
"I do wish I could recall your face…but why have you showed yourself to us now?" Kurama asked.
"I heard Kuronue was back in town…you know so many thought you were dead." Monsieur Hurlock was now looking at Kuronue with soft purple yet menacing eyes. "And also I am glad to see your not rusty…mind giving back what I own?" Monsieur Hurlock smiled and extended his palm.
Kuronue smiled and threw it into his hand.
"Thank you…"
"You know…I do remember you…but I don't know you as Hurlock, wasn't it Vernon?" Kuronue smiled.
"Well…" Hurlock's smile went away. "Some still call me that…it means nothing more to me know then any other name…isn't that right Shuchi?" Hurlock smiled again and looked over to Kurama.
Kurama fidgeted and sighed.
"So…you came here to…?"
"To see if it was true. If really you were living." Hurlock spoke fast and then waved. "And now…I must go…I left my house door open and now that I think of it…" He was about to flint off when Kurama grabbed him by the shirt collier.
"Ahem…"
"Oh…Heheh…caught me." Hurlock pulled out a wristwatch. "Sorry…tempting!" Then he was gone.
"Think he was telling the truth?" Kurama asked while sitting by a fire in the fireplace.
"Yeah…he seems like a weasel…but a good one…" Kurama raised an eyebrow.
"I…. guess so…" Kurama sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm going to bed…see you tomorrow Kuronue, I have the boardwalk planned." Kuronue scratched his head.
"Well…uh okay." Kuronue shrugged and sipped his gin. "Night…"
"Good night."
