A/N: Hello once again, Audience.

You'll notice that this chapter is a bit shorter than the others have been, and I do apologize for that for reasons that I will reveal below, but I just couldn't help stopping the chapter right where I did this time. It was just too perfect xD I will make up the length to you in the next chapter!

CHANGE IN POSTINGS ANNOUNCEMENT: While I have been posting roughly once a week for a while now, I am going to switch to a twice a month regimen. My reasoning is twofold. Since CM and I have not been writing on this main story as often as we were once able to, that actually means that we are fast approaching the end of what she and I have done. This factor plus my upcoming (and already quite busy) schedule has led me to this decision. Chapters will be released on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Look for the next chapter to come out in two weeks!

Ciao for now!~

Symbols Guide:

* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei

3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama

~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.

As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.

Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.

(Words in italics and within parenthesis is dialogue between Hiei and Shikiyoku via the bond between them after Hiei becomes Shikiyoku's Consort. As soon as the 'thought' occurs, it can pass between them, and does not actually have to be formed into exact words-feelings and sensations can pass through as well-in order to be picked up and the meaning translated immediately by the other. For the sake of the coherence by the reader, words and sentences are used as normal. It cannot be picked up by telepathy.)

"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."

The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).

The Nabu Exception also applies to anyone when they are in an animal form, if the dialogue is in italics and quotations, unless stated otherwise.

Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!

[Will be updated soon]™

After the conversation Hiei had had with Shikiyoku, he'd gone quiet. Hiei had rested the rest of that day, and even into the next, before he had pulled himself from bed and into working in the bar. Occasionally, he took days off to sit with his guild, who had seemingly taken a vote and came to the unanimous decision to take their own little break for a while.

He'd told them about Uryo, and why he'd pushed so hard for them to leave when he'd realized who it was. He'd admitted that he hadn't been expecting to leave that clearing with every one of them alive, and had been willing to spend every drop of his own energy to make sure they got away. He'd explained that he'd not expected to be carried out still breathing.

He'd been hit for that. Several times, actually, and had earned several well-deserved bruises and curses from the entire lot of them. And, just as he'd done with Shikiyoku, he'd promised to never do that again. He'd vowed to do better, to learn quicker, and to actually let them in when he needed them.

"No more refusing our help, boss," the second in command had said with a stern stare. Hiei had only nodded.

Only about a week had passed before the group had been approached by a messenger in the bar, who had taken one look around the table before approaching Hiei. The fire demon had watched with steady eyes that followed the other's every move, assessing the intent behind the demon before he was even close enough to express it verbally. Being around Shikiyoku was making it easier for him to read people, he realized.

By the time the demon had reached Hiei, he'd already known that he'd only be given a letter, which had been extended a second after Hiei had actually pinpointed the envelope. An extended hand had taken the correspondence from the other, and his fingers had deftly peeled it open.

"The master requests a meeting with you, Gouka."

As expected, the letter had said just as much as the messenger, except it actually held an address, and a post-note on the bottom with numbers that ticked down from thirty.

When it burst into flames, Hiei was up and moving, gesturing only to his right hand man to follow, telling the others he'd be back with news- or would send for them in the very least. He'd said a brief farewell to Shikiyoku through the bond, but hadn't had time to do more than that before he was running across the Level and into the next.

Seven layers he ran, until he reached a bar there, just on the edge of that Level and the next lowest. Outside stood a small group, whom had in turn directed Hiei another route, saying something of 'unforeseen circumstances' and a 'sudden relocation'. Whatever had happened had resulted in Hiei and his guild-mate to be escorted to the other side of the Seventh, where he met with a figure in a mask wishing for anonymity, going so far even as to ask for the second guild member to be left outside, beyond the spell that made the room a silent fortress.

He'd honored the demon's wish with the stipulation that his guild could be informed of the situation so that they were well equipped to handle it. The other had agreed only to have his second-in-command let in, and then sent him on his way with just enough information to get started.

Only about the third day in did he realize the demon they'd been sent to capture was an Infected one. Only on the third day of their tracking did Hiei realize that they were not sent to assassinate a problem demon, but to throw it onto the Eighth, and come back with proof that they'd done as such.

And their client would likely make an attempt on their life should they back out.

On the fifth day, Hiei found himself growing irritated, short-tempered, and irrational. He realized that the bond strained in his mind, telling him that he would do best to return to the First Level and fill up on his share of time with Shikiyoku.

Instead, he kept running, his hold on the demon tight and angry. His second-in-command ran behind, watching the demon that was being dragged against the earth at breakneck speeds, flailing its arms and snarling in anger.

"Boss, it's time for trade off."

Hiei didn't slow down, knowing that the other could catch up and even pass him at this speed, and he even did so with a hand outstretched to take the chain Hiei had been stringing along. He passed it over, cursing in his head that they were running all the way from the Third Level to the Seventh only to toss this one to the Eighth and turn around and go back.

There's got to be an easier way.

"Too bad they don't have reliable transportation much anymore," the other commented as if having read Hiei's mind. "This sure is a pain in the ass."

Hiei blinked once, an idea sparking his interest as he continued running, never remembering to respond as he instead began making plans.

~!**!~

Later that evening, Akari had traded shifts with Mimi, who smiled and patted her on the back as she passed by. "You've been pulling longer shifts more and more often these days, Akari!" The girl had said. "Before long, you might end up owning the place!"

Akari blinked, then shook her head. "I'm not one for running things, Manami. I'd rather-"

"Manami?"

Akari blinked once, twice, thrice at the short girl, astounded at herself. For a moment, she said nothing, only staring at Mimi for a time before she gave a sigh. "Manami was a good friend of mine. You remind me of her a little, in some ways." Despite herself, Akari found her chin dipping a little and her lips stretching. "She always had a smile for me, even when I was hard to keep up with."

"She seems nice! Maybe I'll meet her one day!"

Akari lifted her head, not answering Mimi. "What makes you think I'd end up with the shop? You're the heir should anything happen."

"Yeah, but I don't want it. I want to study abroad and become a chef at some fancy restaurant! I can't do that from inside this shop."

Akari nodded. "I see." She went quiet, still watching the other girl with curiosity. "Well, if that happens, I'd be happy to have you around for a while before you run off, Mimi. Just to get used to it."

The girl nodded once. "I wouldn't leave you high and dry! Now, go home to your puppies and give them kisses for me!"

"Sure thing," Akari promised as she walked out the door.

On her way out, she passed by Botan, who spun and took to walking beside the demoness with a curious gleam in her eyes. "Hey, what are you up to?"

Akari gave a shrug. "Home, I guess."

"Well, I have a better idea! Want to go get dinner with me?" Botan asked, smiling wide.

Akari turned her eyes to the sky, thinking. The voices were getting loud again, and she was due for a trip to the Fourth. "I dunno. I've still got to go shopping for-"

"You can do that tomorrow, Akari! Listen, there's this yummy little ramen place in town, and I really do hate eating alone."

"Aren't you rooming with Yukina and Keiko?" Her attempt to get away at this point was only halfhearted at best.

"Yes, but they are both busy today. Working girls in their own way, and all!"

"Why don't you get a job?"

"I do have one! It's just an unpredictable one! Anyway, they're busy and I would really appreciate it if you tagged along! I'll even-"

"No, you will not buy my dinner, Botan." Akari interrupted, giving her most recent friend a look. "But, since you asked so nicely, I'll go."

"Eee! This will be so fun!" *

~!**!~

Despite the strain of the bond practically begging him to go back, Hiei had taken the time to stop somewhere on the Fifth Level, his right hand man staying with him as he met with a demon he'd once contracted with long before he'd met Kurama or any of the Spirit Detective team.

"You sure you want to commit to this, Hiei? It's not an overnight project."

Hiei reached into his pocket and retrieved the currency he'd only just been paid, dropping the decent sized bag onto the glass tabletop. "All I need is a beginning blueprint. A beginning plan that will get me started. Should this take off, you will only pay me commision for each one after mine. Essentially, you will be the grand schemer behind this. It will become yours, with mine the first to get the possibility off the ground."

"Surely you don't mean literally."

"If that's what someone wants, they'll have to figure that one out themselves."

"Do you honestly believe they will be in high enough demand?" The demon pushed his monocle back into place over his left eye, the chain making a small sound that Hiei knew meant it would break soon. "Not many demons are in need of such-"

"If this fails, I will pay you back every cent that I did not pay for in advance, and the contract will have never existed. I will see to it that you have nothing to lose."

"Boss," his friend stepped up to his side, looking down at the bag Hiei had dropped. "This… is going to be fun. I hope you're not thinking you can exclude us in this."

Hiei scoffed. "On the contrary. It will take us all."

"Well then, Hiei. when you put it that way, I really can't turn down this opportunity. Are you sure all you need is schematics?"

"For now, that will do. Should I need material, I know where to go."

The contractor gave a curt nod. "I will send my finished piece the second it's completed, no more no less."

Hiei gave a nod of approval. "Consider this your incentive to get going." He pushed the bag of change towards the other, watching as it fell over and spilled its silver contents on the glass, matching the coins that he'd allowed his guild to split amongst themselves so long ago. "More will be coming, to keep you… motivated."

"That's too kind of you, Gouka."

Hiei ignored the thanks as he turned to leave, his hands in his pockets.

"Weren't you going to use that on Mother, boss?"

Hiei didn't answer.

~!**!~

Akari walked the ten minutes it took her to get to the apartment, smiling as she pushed the door open. Her thoughts remained on dinner with Botan, who had somehow managed to get her into some ramen shop she'd never heard of before. Originally, she'd been trying to get into a certain place, but it had been so crowded that Akari had gotten impatient and lead the way out, uncomfortable with the crowds. Despite that, dinner had been nice. Relaxing, and one-hundred percent worth it.

In the end, she'd opted out of going on a hunt. She figured there was no reason to ruin a good day with a long, draining run on the Fourth Level. Plus, she didn't feel like fighting today.

In fact, little by little, she'd begun to feel weary about those trips. It was almost as if she thought that if she avoided it, then eventually, the voices would disappear of their own accord. That maybe eventually, the pain of her pack being so miserable would dissipate, or she would become immune. Perhaps it stemmed from wishing she'd never become an Alpha, but there was no fixing that problem at this juncture.

And really, it did her no good to dwell on it.

So, as she swung the door to her apartment, she called to Nabu and Kiyoko, both of which she heard jump up from their comfy beds in one of the rooms and come running on the wood floor to greet her.

"You're back! We thought you'd miss the usual run!"

Akari crouched to greet the pair, though Nabu sat a few inches away to allow Kiyoko the attentions that Akari gave the white dog. Her hands rubbed at the female's sides, scratching at the places she knew the canine had come to favor over time. "Now, that would hardly be fair to you two, would it?"

Kiyoko gave a bark, making Akari smile as she scratched. "Plus, we have somewhere to be today, remember?"

"Oh yeah!"

Akari stood, gesturing to the still-open door. "Well then, let's go!" She watched as the two darted out the door and down the stairs, giving a small smile to herself as she followed suit, locking the door behind her as she trailed after the pair.

Before they got too far away from her, she caught up with them and redirected their paths, taking a jog to the shopping district. Despite the fact that the sun was setting and the streetlamps were coming to life, people lined the streets. So much so that Akari, Nabu, and Kiyoko had to slow to a casual pace, the trio taking their time as she lead them into a store.

"We're not allowed in stores, Akari." Nabu reminded her, but the demoness turned and waved the pair forward anyway.

"This is a special store. Let's go, we have some shopping to do." Akari watched the pair look first at one another before Kiyoko made the first leap forward, bounding her way to Akari until she caught up, Nabu following after. "It's a pet store."

"No wonder I smell cats and birds and-"

"They let people adopt pets too. This way," she turned onto an aisle that had a wall of leashes, walking until she found the section where the collars hung on a display. Smiling, she began looking over each individual piece, occasionally looking down at Nabu and Kiyoko in thought.

Finally, she pulled two collars from their pegs and turned to crouch in front of the pair, holding the collars up against their chests to assess how they'd look against their fur. For a moment, she only stared, her lips pursed before she shook her head and stood upright, replacing both collars and choosing two more.

This time, Akari felt happy with the selections. With steady hands, Akari pulled the teal collar in her left hand from its bindings first, adjusting the bow for a moment before fitting it around Kiyoko's neck, positioning the little bow in the front, admiring the jewel in the center of it. Pleased, Akari turned to Nabu, pulling the green leather collar from its bindings and fitting it around his neck, a little paw print charm hanging from it. She sat back and admired the pair, finally giving a nod and standing upright. "Are they comfortable?"

Both dogs looked at one another, and comically, Nabu gave a sort of nod to her. "They're nice!"

Akari nodded in agreement before turning and picking out two leashes, making sure they matched the collars in color before she turned and lead her companions to the front, where they stood in line for a few minutes.

Once Akari was in front of the cashier, she handed both leashes and both packages to the collars, "I hope you don't mind that I opened them. Wanted to see how they looked first."

"No worries! Everyone does it!" The boy smiled at her as he ran the items across the scanner, finally giving her a total. "Do you want a couple of ID tags too? They're cheaper when paired with new collars."

Akari blinked and turned to glance at the display above the belt of the register, looking over her options. "Maybe next time."

"Alright!" Akari passed him some bills and waited for the change, then turned and lead the two dogs from the place.

"We really like these, Akari."

"I'm glad. I figured it would be fun to add some flash, yeah?"

"I couldn't agree more." *

~!**!~

As time passed since his visit to the Fifth, Hiei began finding himself approached more and more with requests to remove Infected demons from Level to Level. And the more he accepted those requests, the more the word got around that his guild also had experience in doing so, and had a rather impressive streak in it.

Over the course of just a few days, word had gotten around that his guild was the only to not have lost one of its own to an Infected. Word was spread that the guild run by Gouka was the fastest to respond, the most respectful in regards to anonymity, and the most efficient in almost everything they were tasked with. Word got around that they had not once let down a client they accepted, and never negotiated price.

And as that word got around, Hiei found himself being contacted more. Sometimes, he'd be in the middle of one mission, and be hunted down on a request for another, effectively splitting the group or forcing him to turn down the request, only to take it later.

And more often than not, those who looked for him were asking on transporting Infected. More often than not, the group was sent out on several of those same jobs at a time, none of them ever certain of what would happen, but all of them ready to give their all should the situation get sticky.

Time and time again, the guys would come back to the bar, usually drained of at least half of their energy, and beat and battered from their task. The joking slowed down, the laughter quieting inside the bar as more and more they were gone, Hiei included. They were lucky to get more than a day between jobs.

And throw into the mix the demons who came into the bar seeking a place in Hiei's guild- all of which he turned down- he was going nuts running in circles.

And when a demon finally came to Hiei in the bar with a tube and a message, Hiei began talking with his guild, each member their head bowed over the paper he slid from the tube and lay out across the table. The squad all eyed the paper, soaking in everything even as they made sure no other set of eyes ever saw the schematics- not even Mother.

Just like that, Hiei was brushing aside tasks that asked for him personally, saying he had commitments, and handing off jobs to available guild members while he and his second in command began preparing for their new project.

Amusingly enough, and yet frustratingly enough, the pair had gathered all of the necessary materials before they'd looked to one another, expecting guidance, and realized that neither had ever tinkered in this area of expertise before.

That had discouraged them for a while, leaving the project on the side and Hiei working with Shiki in the bar for a while. On the days they didn't work? He stared, taking in the sleepy face he saw in the morning and the hair that fell in front of her eyes. He drank in the moments where she would lay next to him, and they would talk over mundane things, or simply lay there and enjoy one another's company. She gave him all her attentions.

Those days had him falling for her harder and harder, with no way to catch himself.

~!**!~

"Akari, couldn't you have asked one of the mover guys to help with this?"

A week had passed since Akari had gone to the pet store for collars, occasionally going back for more things here and there. It was cheaper than the other places, really, when it came to dog supplies.

"Come on, Botan. You agreed to pitch in with anything you could! You can do it!" Akari ginned over the edge of the mattress at the blue-haired girl, eyes twinkling with mirth at the other. "All you have to do is push it up the stairs! I'll pull the weight!"

"But it's up four flights!"

Akari laughed to herself, pulling the mattress up to the third-story platform of the concrete stairs, thankful for the upteenth time that it had a plastic cover on it. "We're almost done! Here!" Akari tossed a water bottle up and over the mattress, hearing rather than seeing it hit the stairs behind Botan and continue to roll down.

"W-wait! I-I want that!" The second Botan let go of the mattress, Akari felt it shift. Her hands grasped tighter at the material, her nails finding the ridges in it and her shoulders straining as she held it in place, hearing footsteps leaving the stairway.

"Botan! I have another!" It wasn't like the mattress was heavy, really. Not to her. It was just bulky and a little inconvenient to carry alone. Two hands simply wasn't enough to get it up and over the corners of the turns in the stairwell. Defeated, she leaned against the corner of the soft material, deciding to wait on the other to return.

As she stood there, she found herself watching the people below, some who noticed her and some who didn't She nodded a greeting at the ones who did, but found an amusement in the ones who didn't and went about their day as usual.

While she was stuck. With a mattress.

And a runaway friend.

Silly.

"Sorry, I have it, Akari!" Came the sudden voice from the other end of the mattress, making Akari give a start. The other laughed, "Did I startle you?"

"Not at all." She began to pull the mattress up the stairs.

"Were you daydreaming, Akari?"

For the first time, Akari gave one, loud guffaw to the air. "You wish!"

"I can definitely see why! There's a pretty handsome man down there! Too bad he's with another girl."

"Maybe you should go chat him up, Botan," Akari teased as she pulled, finding the topic an easy distraction for the other and deciding to roll with it. "I'm sure he'd be taken with that hair of yours. Oh, and don't forget the purple eyes!"

"Lavender! They're lavender, thank you!"

Akari could just imagine the tongue that was stuck out at her. "Hm. Could've sworn they were purple. Maybe more pink. That would definitely explain why you like wearing that color so much." Akari didn't have to point out the pink jacket the other wore over her white tee. Or the pink shoes.

"I happen to like the color because it's pretty, Akari. Not because it matches my eyes! You should try it sometime; add some color to that dull wardrobe of yours! Even on your day off you're wearing your work uniform! What dedication!"

"I just don't need other clothes," Akari replied with a shrug as she leaned the mattress against the side of the apartment, fishing her keys from her pocket and unlocking her door. "It isn't like I go anywhere but work anyways."

"Well, I'm going to change that. You need to get out every once in awhile."

Akari didn't dignify that with a response, other than a little smirk as she pushed her door open and dragged the mattress inside and into the bedroom across the way. "Nabu, Kiyoko! I'm back! But I've got a mattress, so you might want to stay where you are!"

"Oooh, where are they? I want to see Kiyoko!"

Akari smiled to herself, not minding that Botan broke away and moved into the other bedroom- Nabu's and Kiyoko's room- to greet her two companions. She simply shuffled her way into her bedroom and slid the mattress onto the bed frame that had been set up several hours ago.

"Oooh, she's still so pretty! And so is her collar!" Botan's voice lilted in awe, and Akari couldn't help but shake her head. "And so is Nabu's! They're wonderful!"

Akari shifted her weight, eyeing the set up bed for a moment before deciding she was satisfied and moved into the living area, closing the door before she turned again and made her way into her friend's' room.

She leaned against the doorframe, watching Botan scratch Kiyoko behind the ear with one hand and lightly rub her belly with the other, the white-haired dog gratefully showing her stomach for some attentions. Nabu sat nearby, watching with a tilted head and eyes that Akari almost thought belonged to an older being.

She waited a few moments before interrupting. "Shall we go to the shop now? I need bed sheets and a comforter, after all." She gave a pause, rather enjoying the scene. "And a couch. Maybe a television too."

"Okay! Just… one more minute. They're so sweet!" Botan reached over to pet Nabu too, who shuffled closer in acceptance of the loving attentions.

Akari didn't mind waiting, and she had the sneaking suspicion that Nabu didn't mind their lingering either. *

~!**!~

"And our top story today: the elusive owner, president and CEO of the Minamino Corporation, Shuichi Minamino, has made his first official public appearance in a press conference earlier this afternoon. Not only was this his first official appearance, but, as far as anyone can make out, his first appearance ever. And I'm sure everyone in the studio can agree that none of us expected the owner to look quite like this. Not only did his charismatic presence woo the awaiting reporters, but his winning smile and calm, graceful responses to all questions appeared to settle even the most anxious of audience members. But why did the board of directors wait so long in revealing this stunning asset to the company's public relations, who, in just a few words, reassured us that Minamino Corporation would be doing its level best in the days to come-"

Kurama pressed the power button on the remote control in his hand, the screen of the television going blank and silencing whatever the news anchor's finishing words might have been as he placed the control back onto his desk where he had first picked it up.

He continued leaning back in his office chair, hands coming together to thread fingers over his torso as he rocked once thoughtfully, far enough back from his desk that he could have rested his legs on it if he had wanted. But he did not.

Without the flickering from the opposite wall, the rest of the room was cast in a gentle glow that originated from U-shaped boxes that lined the sides of the office just above head-height, the plants within them giving off a warm, soft light that somehow mirrored the moonlight pouring in from behind him.

"You should be proud of yourself, sir. You did quite well today." A voice spoke up from his elbow after a beat of silence had passed.

Kurama lowered his head a touch, green eyes closing as the barest of smiles tugged at one corner of his mouth.

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me Kurama, Yoku?"

The short, dark-haired woman standing just behind him with her arms hanging down and hands clasped in front of her thighs over a clipboard tipped her head forward slightly in deference, "As I have said before, sir: when I am serving in this capacity it is wiser that I refer to you in such a manner. And I would much prefer it if you would call me 'Inyoku' in response."

"We are by ourselves for the moment, there is not a single being in the building aside from you and myself, and I did not install cameras in either of the upper two floors; there is no need to continue the charade."

"This is no charade, sir. You have officially hired me as your personal assistant."

Kurama gave out a tiny sigh, "And unofficially, you are something more akin to a therapist for me."

Yoku tilted her head slightly, "All the more reason to keep our relationship so."

Kurama bent his arm over the the top of the arm of his chair, letting the back of it rest there as he held his hand out into the air in front of her, palm up.

"No one can see us, Yoku."

She raised a single eyebrow and blinked at the empty hand, "Someone is always watching, sir."

"Yoku, come here."

The back of her neck clenched at the edge his voice acquired and she took the steps forward until his hand was within her reach. He twitched his fingers twice in rapid succession and she gave in, relinquishing one hand from holding her clipboard and placing her petite palm in his awaiting grasp.

He curled his fingers and smoothly moved his arm across the front of himself, Yoku forced to follow the motion to stand in front of him.

All at once Kurama was out of his chair and standing over her-it was all she could do to not take a step back and end up sitting on top of his desk-keen eyes finding hers as she looked up at him and took a moment to push the glasses on her face further up her nose. He allowed himself a moment to enjoy her features, though his privately disapproved of how she always kept her hair up in a bun when she was around him. The wisps of hair that had fallen free and hung in front of her ears were tempting to toy with in any case.

"And what of our friendship, Yoku?" Kurama found himself surprised at how his voice softened of its own accord. He had not intentionally done so. "Would you not call me 'Kurama' even then?"

"Are we friends at the moment, sir?"

"I should very much hope so, dear one." He had not let go of her hand.

Shikiyoku blinked up at Kurama and after another moment, the usual severity of her face as it was when in her position as his personal assistant faded away and a smile lightened her features, leaving Kurama to mirror her expression as he found himself doing more often of late.

"You've come a very long way, Kurama." She said encouragingly after a moment, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "If I hadn't known you, I wouldn't have seen the nervousness on your face."

His shoulders shook once in silent amusement, "I would have felt much better with you at my side."

She shook her head, "You did just fine without me."

Kurama frowned, "I still need you."

Finally her lips slid into a quirky smile, "I never said you didn't."

"I might have a regression at any moment."

"Perish the thought, sir."

Kurama let himself stare at her emotionless face for a moment, making it perfectly clear how he felt about her reverting to 'sir.'

Staring back without so much as a blink, Yoku slipped her hand out from his and pulled her clipboard up towards her face, settling her glasses again and leaving Kurama to let out something of a sigh as he recognized her business mode switching on once more.

"Now, there is the matter of celebration."

Kurama lifted an eyebrow in her direction, but before he could form a reply, she had half-turned and set her clipboard down on his desk, much to his surprise, and then stepped away from him in such a manner that he did not have a chance to make a grab for her before she was several feet from him, moving for the closest marble planter box and pressing a hidden switch, bending over and coming back up with two glasses in one hand and a bottle in the other.

As she moved towards him, she slipped off her heels and tucked them with her prodding toes up against the side of his desk, reaching up and carefully removing her glasses to set them on the table.

She gestured towards the window for him to open it, and he regarded her with thinly veiled amusement up until the moment where she easily hopped up to and through the opening, moving smoothly along the ledge a ways before sitting down and then waving for him to join her.

Kurama actually let out a laugh as he slipped his jacket from his shoulders to lay it on the back of his chair and then also removed his shoes and socks, laying them with one another out of the way and finally climbing out to the ledge to join her.

She had the glasses full of bubbling beverage by the time he settled next to her, the bottle between them and not allowing him to get as close as he might have liked, and she passed him one as soon as he appeared ready for it, holding her own up.

"To a successful transformation, Kurama. Excellently done today."

He smiled and clinked her glass, the two of them taking a sip and he lifted his own to indicate he had a toast for directly after.

"To my lovely personal assistant, who molded me into the man I am seated here next to her." He looked directly into her eyes, speaking in all seriousness, "I could not have done this without you, Yoku."

He almost earned himself a smile, and watched as it danced from one side of her lips to the other, but never fully formed as their glasses met, separated, and went to their respective holders.

Shikiyoku let out a sigh, putting her free hand on the ledge behind her and leaning into it, kicking her feet once or twice as she took another drink, Kurama picking up the bottle as he saw her taking her glass away from her lips and indicating that he would pour for her.

The lightest of blushes beginning to settle over her nose, Shikiyoku nodded and held her glass out for him.

He scooted over next to her to pour, and relinquished the bottle when she silently requested it, filling his glass in turn before putting it over on her other side.

Enjoying their drinks in companionable silence, out of the corner of his eye Kurama watched Shikiyoku as she tipped her head up, the moonbeams caressing each and every one of her curves as she gently kicked her feet back and forth.

He wished her hair was flowing around her shoulders like he imagined it would.

Shikiyoku glanced over at his glass to make sure it still had liquid in it, and finding it lower than it should have been, she filled it up for him.

"You're much faster than I."

"It's an exceptional bottle, I admit." Not to mention the fact even he knew there was something to be said about that sort of thing being referred to as 'liquid courage.'

Her glass was not half-empty yet and she placed the bottle back to her side.

"Yoku-"

She turned to look at him again as he spoke up.

"-I wanted to somehow express my appreciation for what you did for me. I am so very much changed from that day you first entered my old office."

She allowed the statement, giving a tip of her head in agreement.

He reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out a small box, fiddling with it in his hand for a moment.

"It is such a small attempt at compensation compared to the vast sacrifice you made. But I feel as if I could spend the rest of my life trying to lessen the gap of my debt to you and never come close to what I owe."

Without further ceremony, he passed the velvet covered box over to her, and holding the stem of her glass in her pinky finger, she opened it with both hands, letting out a gasp at what she revealed.

You always had a soft spot for the shinier things.

He watched the joy at the item reflected in her eyes as she took in the delicate emerald set onto the golden band.

"May I?"

He waited until she nodded before retrieving the box from her, setting it on the other side of his leg after removing the ring, "Which hand would you prefer?"

In her ambidextrousness, she used both of them rather often throughout her day.

"Mm." She bit her lip, looking to first one hand and then the other, and without particularly considering the implications of the notion, switching her glass to her other hand and held out her left for him to take.

He slid it onto her middle finger and let her watch it sparkle in the moonlight.

"You made this, didn't you."

She didn't exactly give him a choice in his answer.

"It isn't made of actual gems and metal, if that's what you're asking." He replied, turning up his nose just slightly and taking another sip of his drink. He very quickly went back to watching her enjoy the sight of the new glint on her finger.

"It's absolutely beautiful, Kurama."

He set his glass down to his right on the other side of his thigh and leaned into her shoulder to look and she held the hand between them so they could both enjoy it.

"Thank you."

He shook his head, still gently leaning against her, "It is I who should be thanking you, Yoku. This piece of work seems almost trivial next to the great honor you have done by working with me."

She turned her head just enough to be able to see his face, her expression welcoming and the barest of smiles tugging at the edge of her lips.

"Yoku," He breathed quietly, slowly facing her and lifting his hand, the tips of his fingers at her cheek shifting her countenance further in his direction as he closed the distance and at the last, kissed her, finding her lips to be warm and soft against his own.

And familiar.

As his eyes closed and he pursued the kiss, Shikiyoku watched with open eyes as a shimmer traversed his entire body and suddenly a much taller demon in a silver yukata had shifted the hand at her cheek to her neck and further sought her attention, his long silver hair cascading into place and glinting in the moonlight.

When he finally pulled away from her just far enough to be able to gaze deeply into her eyes with his own now-golden ones, his deeper voice vibrated low between them in something of a satisfied sigh of words.

"Even in so changed a form, your lips still taste like the finest honey, dear one."

He finally stirred her lips into a smile and it was that smile that had him abruptly kissing her again, unable to stand any longer not responding to her smiles as such, when she had all but unknowingly been teasing him with them since returning to him.

"Mm!"

He pulled away at her attempt at an exclamation and she held the now-empty glass up between them, having not been able to pull it away in time with his second advance, looking down at her blouse to see where the spill flowed down the one side of it.

Youko leaned back over her with a grin, this time his right arm crossing her front to rest his hand against the concrete next to her thigh.

"Well, we don't have to worry about spilling it now." He murmured as he kissed her again.

The hand on the concrete did not last long there, but as he raised it up to place it elsewhere, he had forgotten the bottle still sat on her side and he brushed against it, setting it clattering.

When Shikiyoku attempted to pull away to look, he snatched the bottle firmly in his hand and reached around behind her to end up with it against the small of her back.

Finally, he felt complete. Finally, he remembered himself. Every bit of it.

Finally, he really and truly remembered her.

[{You know, I thought about it long and hard, and want to know what I decided, self?}]

[{What is that, self?}]

[{Just because I did not become her Consort...does not mean I will not be her mate.}]

Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off!