Chapter Three- The Bite

Shiori walked down the sidewalk, planning the next morning. She would walk Shuichi home, telling him to give in to the vicious werewolf he would be by that time. He will resist during the day, but once the moon rises, he will transform and think as a werewolf. He will also follow my lead as I am the elder. She smiled cruelly as she pictured the two of them hunting and eating anything they wanted. Soon, that fantasy will be reality. She slipped into an alley where she could change safely and have access to prey quickly. She licked her lips in anticipation of biting, feasting, and drinking her victim. She was aware of what she was thinking but she reveled in it and besides, night was almost upon her.

Her nose flared and her eyes locked on the entrance. She smelled fox; the same one from this morning. Shuichi followed me earlier than I anticipated. Oh, that's perfect; better than I planned. He will definitely follow my lead. She backed up to insure that there would be enough room for her to change, bit him, and for him to change as well. Her kind, sweet son would soon be a vicious, angry werewolf. I used to be a nice woman and Shuichi became a nice person because of that. Now I am mean and he needs to be mean, too.

Kurama stepped into the alley, pulled a seed from his hair, and used his energy to change it to a rose and then a whip. "Mother, I beg you t reconsider your decision. You cannot and should not eat humans."

"You cannot stop me, Shuichi," she almost snarled. "You are about three months too late."

"No," he whispered calmly. "I can still stop you."

Shiori emitted a low growl as her eyes glowed red and her fur began to grow. He should have used that whip of his earlier to restrain me. Ah, but maybe he knew that my muscles would enlarge and would have torn through it and I would be upon him before he could counter attack.

Kurama watched calmly and a bit scared as Shiori transformed. He kept a close eye on her limbs. Once she is on all fours, I will strike. He saw her muscles grow larger as her hands and feet became paws and his hand tightened on his weapon. Come on, drop down. He watched her forepaws headed toward the ground. Now! His whip snapped forward and wound around the she-wolf's legs, sending her to the ground. She growled angrily at the restriction and began to gnaw quickly at the plant, ignoring the thorns that pricked her muzzle and face. Kurama dug into his hair for another rose seed but found none. I'm out of rose seeds! Why didn't I realize that before? he asked himself before Shiori got free and leaped onto him, pushing him to the ground. He looked into her snarling face and sensed that he was going to die. She lunged down, seized his shoulder, and bit down. He screamed and she released, backing up as he sat up, gripping the injury. She…bit me! That means that next month I will be- His thoughts broke off as red fur sprouted over his body and his nails became claws. What? I'm changing now!? A haze of anger and vicious nature clouded his mind as he stood up briefly before dropping to four paws. His eyes glowed red as the transformation continued. A long low growl and his mind reverting to wolf ended his change and he locked eyes with the she-wolf before him. He stared into her eyes and deep down, knew she was kin and an elder as well. He would follow her lead. He bent his head and growled to acknowledge her authority. She growled to accept his submission before charging out of the alley to hunt for food, the red wolf doing the same as they terrorized the area.

Green eyes blinked opened and focused on Shiori lying beside him, awake and smiling cruelly at him. He sat up quickly and scrambled away from her. "You bit me!" he said angrily; an anger that was quite appropriate for his statement.

"I know. I learned that demons could be turned which was why you were desperate for a cure. I further found that if I encounter family, I will be compelled to turn instead of kill and they would then transform immediately."

Kurama's eyes then widened and a sick feeling was felt in his stomach. "I…killed," he whispered in horror. "I actually ate a human."

"You did and so did I. I would guess that humans taste better than anything else as I barely left anything behind."

Kurama said nothing as he stared at the ground. He had been bitten and ate a human! I will end up becoming like Mother: Vicious, angry, and aggressive. My scent will include wolf and Hiei will know I failed.

"Come along, Shuichi. You don't want to be late for school."

Kurama stood and followed Shiori home where both changed clothes and gathered their bags, Kurama handed a boxed lunch before they left for the day. The redhead bowed his head as he walked. Now that he was a rational-thinking person again, he was able to recall last night's events clearly. He had been angry from being bitten and being a werewolf. He remembered looking into Shiori's eyes, feeling a sense of kin, and him submitting to her authority. He had followed in her paw prints when it came to hunting. She had launched herself at a human and tore him apart brutally and efficiently. He too attacked a human and he recalled toying with his target by chasing him before leaping upon him and biting him on the neck, instantly killing him.

Tears welled up and he rubbed his arm across it. I couldn't stop myself. I had no rational thought, no moral code. I was a vicious, wild animal and I will continue to be so for life.

Kurama felt distracted and restless though no one could tell. His attention on his teacher didn't falter so Kurama assumed his feelings were imaginary. He had gotten a shock when he slightly lifted the lid of his boxed lunch: In addition to his favorite food, there was raw meat in it! His shock gave away to anger. She is trying to change me quickly, but it takes time for anything or anyone to change. I, however, do not want to change and I will do what I can to resist any urges while I am in control of myself. He looked at his lunch. I should eat all of it, but I will tell Mother not to do this again.

He walked home after school and hopped onto the Internet. He began looking for werewolf signs and, more importantly, weaknesses. He needed to know what would keep him from attacking and protecting humans, animals, and demons from himself. If I can lock myself up and have water and dog food nearby that should do it. But what would resist my new strength? He brought up several windows on weaknesses to draw up a list of similar weaknesses and then he wrote down likely other weaknesses. He looked it over and felt a bit better.

So, silver is not the only fatal metal. Any sharp object that strikes a vital organ can kill us. Wards can keep us restrained and Wolfsbane can weaken us and curb our aggressive tendencies. The cultivating of the Wolfsbane will take time even with my affinity for plants. The wards I will have to get tomorrow as it will soon be night. Luckily, this is the last full moon and tomorrow is Saturday.

Kurama looked around to locate something sliver, but could find nothing. He sniffed the air, picked up his mother's scent and he growled in anger. Mother was here and took any kind of silver in my room. He took a calming breath. Okay, that is fine. A simple steel knife or sword will still kill. When I go to Genkai's for the wards, I will inquire about Wolfsbane. I will ask for a cutting to raise if she has any.

I wonder if Hiei will come by tonight or if he will stay away until tomorrow night. If it was me, I would wait until tomorrow.

"Shuichi!" shouted Shiori and there was such force in her voice that he found himself unable to resist; not that he ever ignored her calls to him before. he rose, left the room, and headed down the stairs to see Shiori waiting. "Ah, good. I intend to kill another human. If you desire to stay home and hunt, you are welcome to do so."

"Yes, Mother." He followed Shiori out the door, but headed toward the back while Shiori headed for town. He headed into the woods, hoping he ate an animal. He hated that he had followed Shiori's lead last night and swore that he would not let her turn him into an angry werewolf who would be hostile in human form and eventually eat only humans. I will not let her.