Chapter 3: Training and the beautiful maiden

Yusuke and Kurama reached Genkai's place after climbing a very long flight of stairs. Yusuke did not break a sweat but Kurama, due to not being used to his new body, was panting.

"You're finally here. Took you quite a long time" an old woman with dull pink hair spoke "But you should know that delays in battles can lead to serious consequences" she added

"I know Genkai, I have quite an experience in that" Kurama smiled

"I must say Kurama, you look really pretty"

"Thank you Genkai"

"And Yusuke, you can go back. Don't want you to speak nonsense when I train Kurama" she said, looking in Yusuke's direction.

"I don't spout nonsense, old hag!" snapped Yusuke

"Shut up you dimwit!"

"Fine. Just don't go harsh on him"

Yusuke left. Genkai turmed to Kurama.

"Kurama, you will have to be very careful. I don't make training easy for anyone. You may die at later higher stages if you are not careful" she told him. Kurama smiled.

"Don't worry Genkai, I am old enough not to let my mind wander" he assured her

"Well then, let's begin"

Around four hours later, Kurama returned to his home.

"I'm home"

"Shuichi! Look at the time. Where were you? Why didn't you come home after school? Do you even know how worried I was? And why are you covered in mud? Why do you have scratches all over you? Does is hurt?" his mother bombarded him with questions. Her worries were doubled when she saw her 'daughter' covered in mud and bruises.

"Oh, it's nothing mother. I was reading a book in the park when I saw a rabbit in the bushes. I chased it and that's where the mud and bruises are from. And as for the time, I was so immersed in the book that I didn't notice the time" he lied

"Oh...Okay. But be home on time from tomorrow" she said "and your friend Yusuke has been waiting for an hour in your room" she added

"What? Yusuke is here? Mother, I'm going to my room" he said and raced up the stairs, into his room.

Kurama entered his room and closed the door. He saw Yusuke sitting on a chair and reading something that looked familiar.

'My diary. HELL!' Kurama snatched his diary from Yusuke.

"Yusuke, that's rude!" he snapped, his cheeks tomato red.

"Hey! I just had a few more lines to read. Never thought you would have a diary"

"You just had to read the last page?!" Kurama asked, his face as red as his hair.

"Yeah. Well don't worry, I won't ask anything about the diary. By the way, how was training for it sure took you a long time?"

"Well it wasn't easy. If I were a boy, then the training would have been a piece of cake. Well my demon self is also not used to this new body so that's why" Kurama replied.

"So what did she ask you to do?"

"Nothing much, First she had me to warm up and then we just trained on combat skills. My training is similar to yours"

"Oh... Are you okay? You look tired" Yusuke inquired as he noticed Kurama's tired self. Kurama's body was completely covered in bruises and there were some deep wounds. Kurama's face was whole but his eyes showed clear signs of exhaustion.

"I'm fine, don't worry. I just need a little rest" he said and took out a notebook from his bag.

"What are you doing?" Yusuke asked "I thought you said you needed rest"

"I do need rest but I can't leave my homework" Kurama smiled wearily and started doing his homework.

"Kurama, you will die from exhaustion like this"

Kurama chuckled and said "People don't die out of exhaustion, Yusuke, and even if they do, demons certainly don't"

"Do whatever you want. I don't think I will be able to make you get some rest. You never listened and I don't think you will"

"You know me very well"

"Oh! You know what? Keiko got really jealous when i told her that I won't be walking her home today as I had to meet you"

"YOU WHAT?!"

"And then you know? She cursed us both and stormed to her house with her friends, still cursing" Yusuke laughed.

"That's not funny. You will go and apologize to Keiko, say that I'm an idiot, it was a waste of time waiting for me as I am a good-for-nothing ugly demon and that it would not bother you even a little if I'm hurt or anything for she is more important to you than anything else and you saw me train with Genkai and I was horrible. Always getting hurt, irritating Genkai, wasting both of yours time. Tell her I'm stubborn, self-centered, attention seeker, freak, ugly, coward. Do you get that? Add other insults if you can.

"Geez Kurama, how did you even manage to say that much in one breath?"

"That doesn't matter. And I'm going to rest. You should go too, it's getting late."

"Okay, fix Girl" said Yusuke and left.

"That idiot" muttered Kurama and he went to bed after taking a bath.

Next morning, Kurama was walking to school when he saw a familiar figure walking at a distance.

That long mane of red hair, those heavily bandaged arms(he had stopped asking her why she was used to have so many bandages all over her when he realized how clumsy she was), a little limp but confident steps.

'It's her'

Kurama hurried towards the girl in front.

"SUMIRE!" he called from a distance of few steps. The red headed girl with breathtaking beauty turned around, her expression undecipherable.

"Shuichi!" Kurama heard Ayami call him and turned in her direction.

"Yes? Is something the matter?" Kurama asked Ayami while mentally cursing her.

'Why does this girl have such a bad timing?"

"No. Let's walk to school together and a moment" she said throwing Sumire a disgusted look. Sumire turned back and started walking with slight indifference.

"Shuichi, that girl is a total freak. How many times have I told you not to be with her. Why don't you ever listen?"

"I don't understand why you call her that" said Kurama, hiding the anger in his voice.

"Freak is a very light word considering what she has done" Ayami said darkly

"What has she done?"

"She was seen coming out from a crime scene covered in blood, no, not hers" she added, noticing Kurama's expression "anyways, she came out of a crime scene with expression of a murderer and when the police came to investigate, they found three people dead. She wasn't arrested as she was a minor and there wasn't any evidence. That's why, Shuichi please stay away from her" she pleaded

"Whatever, but that doesn't make her the murderer"

"Yes it does. Which person at our age has such a control over their emotions, except for a freaking brainwashed murderer? Who does not feel humiliated after hearing so much―"

"Shut up" ordered Kurama, his eyes deadly "You must not speak of things you don't know about"

"So you know why she acts like that?" said Ayami in a mocking tone.

"No, that's why I don't judge. Come or else we'll get late"

When Kurama entered the classroom, he saw Sumire sitting on her usual seat, next to the window, staring aimlessly at the sky. Smiling to himself, Kurama took a seat in front of her. Just as he turned to ask her about what Ayami had told him, the teacher entered the classroom and Kurama made a mental note to ask her about everything afterwards. He was surprised to see that she was avoiding him during the rest of the day.

"Does she think that I think like those girls? Or maybe she thinks she was never on good terms with me? I seriously thought those girls hated her for she used to be with me but its not just that, they still hate her. And worst of all, she isn't even talking to me. Oh great, I'm late for training" Kurama muttered to himself while walking up the stairs to Genkai's place. The rest of the day was well spent on training.

Author's Note: Hey guys, that's it for the third chapter. Ignore the grammatical errors, if any. Also please tell me if you liked it.