You think of new ways to torment your characters. There's a lot of fluff in this chapter.--GF
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and as always, please don't flame.
Chapter 7: Achy, Breaky Kurama
"Now don't get any ideas. My room is across the hall. Dick's is next to yours."
"Is Mr. Wayne here as well?"
"Bruce? He may show up tomorrow. He had a dinner function tonight that he couldn't get out of," she informed him as she tossed him the key to his room. "Once you get settled, come and knock on my door and we'll get a bite to eat and check out the track."
I know what I want to eat, came Yoko's thoughts. Shucihi groaned softly as he entered his room.
'I don't think she had that in mind, Yoko.'
The out door race track was nothing more then mud, straw and trees. Shuichi now understood why Barbara said jeans and causal. He watched from the sidelines as she inspected the track talked with a few friends and rivals. He did note he was drawing a few stares as he stretched out on a few straw bales.
Dick came over also. "Well, I'm set for tomorrow. How's Barbara?" Looking around at pit set up then back to the red head, "Man, how do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Get people to drool all over you?"
Shuichi shrugged, "I wish they wouldn't."
Like I said, Red, when you got it, flaunt it.
Barbara and Dick took Shuichi to a small steak and grill bar not far from the track. It featured a live band. A few patrons called to the trio as they found a table not far from the music and dance floor.
After they placed their orders, Barbara grabbed Shuichi as Dick spied a couple of friends, "Come on. Let's dance."
"I don't . . ."
"Come on." She pulled him out of his chair and onto the dance floor, "It'll be fun."
Shuichi wasn't too sure about this. He had avoided all the balls and dances when he was in school for a reason. He hated being noticed in this fashion.
Come on Red. Lighten up.
'You're just loving this aren't you?'
Yoko chuckled.
Barbara pulled him into the line dancing and started to show him the steps as the band began to play, "Achy, Breaky Heart." It wasn't long before he got the hang of it and was starting to enjoy himself. He gave Barbara a smile as he stepped to the music.
However, what he feared happened. Barbara and him were singled out as they line stepped. He heard over the music several very suggestive comments from not only the women but a few guys as well. One would have thought he was from Chippendale for all the comments.
Flaunt it Red! Yoko crowed in his mind. Shake it!
'Do be quiet.'
When the music ended, Shuichi was surrounded by admiring fans all wanting to get closer. Barbara elbowed her way through and managed to drag him away.
"I did warn you," Shuichi said with a shudder as they made it off the dance floor.
Laughing, Barbara agreed. "Come on. Our meal should be ready."
Later after Shuichi had retired, Barbara and Dick compared notes with Bruce on a three way laptop conference call.
'Man, he's like a walking sex magnet. Did you see how people reacted to him, Babs?" Dick said on the conference call between Barbara and Bruce.
"He knew it was going to happen," Barbara said. "Although, he did seem to enjoy himself."
"I'll be there tomorrow," Bruce said. "Just don't do anything else. Just go to the track and I'll meet you there."
At the track the next morning, as Barbara checked out her bike, Shuichi wandered the grounds. To say he was out of his element would be putting it mildly. The roar of the engines, the fumes, the noise, and the mud were overwhelming, but for the kitsune, it was something new and very different.
His very exceptional hearing caught most of the conference through the hotel walls. He did like Dick's assessment of what happened, a sex magnet was a good term to describe a kitsune, especially a silver one.
Shuichi smirked as he looked up at the tall oak tree he found himself under. Looking around, he found an acorn. Another seed to add to his collection.
They just don't know what to make of us, Red. Are we the good guys or the bad?
Bruce found the red head enjoying a fudge bar sitting on some straw bales watching the race oblivious to the picture he was creating. Several people, mostly women were watching Shuichi licking that treat like hungry predators.
Shaking his head, Bruce now understood Dick's comments from last night as he walked over to lean on the bales. "So who's winning?"
Turning to face the billionaire, Shuichi shrugged, "I have not clue, sir. It's all new to me."
"Call me Bruce. You've never been to one of these things?"
"No sir. Sorry. Bruce. My taste runs more into challenges of physical prowess, testing one's limits against all odds."
Looking at the women, then back at the racers, Bruce commented, "I see you have a following." Recalling the footnotes in Minamino's file about girl fanclubs, he had thought they were exaggerated but seeing it first hand at Wayne Enterprises and now here, maybe not.
Shuichi shrugged. "It happens no matter where I go. I'm use to it." Shuichi ducked his head, rubbing his temple. It was another thing he noticed. It was almost like a nervous twitch.
"How do you like working at Wayne Enterprises, Shuichi?" Bruce asked, changing the subject.
Finishing his treat, the fox smiled, licking the stick. "It can be interesting. I do want to thank you about keeping the media off of me. I was only trying to help."
"Not a problem," Bruce said, feeling the effect the boy was creating by that simple action. "You know I've filed a patent for that antidote in your name. It's pretty effective. When it goes through, which I seriously think it will, you will gain a bit of prestige. Where did you learn so much about medicine?"
Shuichi shrugged again, "As I said, I've made a study on poisons and their antidotes." Tossing the stick into a nearby trash can, he smiled slightly, "Plants are a major interest to me."
Bruce could believe that especially seeing how he could manipulate them with a thought. Again, just who or what was this boy?
I just couldn't resist. I just couldn't get the image of Kurama shaking that gorgeous body of his out of my mind. Until next time. --GF