A/N: I've been having a hard time writing, which sucks since this is NaNo time. Anyway, I managed to get this finished up after some frustration. I'm hoping to write longer chapters soon.

I pulled the Tarot meanings from my Linestrider's Journey companion book. It's such a beautiful deck. If you're interested in tarot I suggest checking it out. I'm on the prowl for The Wild Unknown deck by Kim Krans. That's not really important. Anyway, here's a short but hopefully information chapter on Victoria, the weirdness Hiei keeps noticing, and introducing one of my fave characters: Grams.


Victoria stared into her cabinets, pulling her phone from her back pocket just before it rang. "I was just about to call you."

"I had the funniest dream last night that you'd gotten the strangest pets." A warm voice drawled on the other side of the line.

"Let me guess, a dragon and a fox?"

"A fox and a small panda bear, actually. What's have you done now?" The old woman sighed, long suffering when it came to granddaughter's antics.

A panda? Oh, that was rich. Victoria glanced over to where Hiei and Kurama had their heads bowed together over a later installment of the manga. A smile cracked over her face. Now that Grams had said it, it couldn't be unseen.

He did have an awfully black and white aesthetic, didn't he?

But weren't pandas slow and sort of dumb? Victoria clicked her tongue. What a strange image for her grandmother to dredge up to describe the man.

Panda.

Hiei in a panda costume.

How much pain would it cost her to pull that off for Halloween in a few months?

"Victoria Priscilla Delaney." The snapping call of her name brought the woman back to her senses and out of her thoughts. "What. Have. You. Done?"

"I didn't do anything. Things just happen to me, you know that." Victoria lamented, letting her head fall back on her neck. "This incident is a lot worse than usual though."

"Incident?"

"Yeah. Those animals? They're people. Well, kind of? They have pulses and they exist. I'm not sure why or how though. They aren't supposed to." Victoria explained the situation, not bothering to lower her voice. "It's a huge mess."

"And you tried salt?"

"Salt was the first thing I tried, Grams. And I used a sigil. Hell, I even took them to Ward's Tea House. Nothing out alarming."

"And you're certain they're demons?"

"Like I said, kind of. They're supposed to be demons but it seems like here, they're just human? It's really stressing the panda out actually. I've had a headache all fucking day."

"Oh, I heard you and Frankie ended things."

"I ended things. Frankie is a dick. He required too much upkeep and made me feel like I was on edge." Victoria sighed. "I was going to break up with him anyway."

"You need to find a nice man to take care of you."

"I'm too busy to worry about dating, Grams. I've sort of got my hands full with the interdimensional creatures sitting in my living room." Victoria hung her head. "Anyway, I'm not coming tomorrow. I don't want to leave these guys alone."

"Bring them."

"You've lost your fucking mind."

There was a pause after the alarmed outburst, which had brought the two men's attention to Victoria as she ceased her pacing of the kitchen. She glanced at them, then away quickly.

"You can't just keep them locked up in your house, Victoria. Boys need room to run around."

"They seem full grown to me. And besides, Hiei gets stressed in social situations. We went out to the mall earlier and the grocery store and I thought he was going to have a panic attack. Guy needs to get whelmed."

"Alright, well, you'll bring them next week after they've had time to settle in. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you sweetie. I'll bring leftovers tomorrow night." Grams offered with a happy lilt to her voice. "Stay safe, honey."

"Love you." Victoria nodded.

"Love you too."

"You're not much for secrets, are you?" Kurama asked from the living room, skepticism clearly arranging his features.

"No one keeps secrets from Grams." Victoria told him with a shrug. "That woman is something else."

She went back to inspecting her cabinets with heavy interest, ignoring them. Kurama was mildly surprised by how often she seemed to pretend they weren't there. Either her behavior the night before had a been a result of stress and her injury, or she was playing them. He honestly couldn't decide which.

"You need something?" Victoria turned around to catch his attention, head tipped to the side. "You're staring awful hard there, Kurama."

"I'm just trying to assess you." He admitted with a shrug. "Your personality seems to shift without notice."

She raised an eyebrow. "I think I've been pretty stable."

"Last night you held a gun to Hiei's head and then tackled him over a dog. Today you buy us clothing and food and pretend we aren't a threat to you." He gestured toward her loosely.

"You suggesting you are a threat, Kurama?"

"I'm suggesting you're being awfully lax for a woman who has taken great care to protect herself."

They stared at each other and Victoria clicked her tongue a few times, then walked over to him. She posted herself on the arm of the love seat, allowing him the space of two couch cushions between their bodies as she rested her elbows on her knees.

"You pointed out last night that while I obviously know a great deal about you, you don't know anything about me. That's a fair point." Victoria told him. "I come from a long line of talented women. Matriarchs, if you will, who have gifts. Grams, her gifts are stronger than mine. I sort of started developing mine late because I hated them and after mom killed herself it wasn't something I wanted to be a part of. But you can't run away from yourself, no matter what you do."

"Gifts?" Kurama squinted at her. "You're speaking of psychic phenomenon."

"Yeah, I am."

"What sort of gifts do you have then?"

"I'm an empath foremost." Victoria widened her hands. "I sense the emotions of those around me, often as if they are my own if I'm not careful and take precautions. I can also manipulate emotions, if I'm inclined to, but it takes a lot of focus or energy and generally I lack both."

"And what else?"

"An intuitive, mostly through feelings. Like what we discussed earlier, it can be called thin slicing, but also, sometimes, it's more than that. Like Grams I'll have dreams. We're both very susceptible to paranormal events and the like." Victoria waved a hand in the air. "I use tarot, runes and other forms of divination when I want to. Grams has taught me a lot about herbalism and the like."

"Runes? Tarot?" Kurama furrowed his brow. "I'm not very familiar with those things."

"I'll show you." She slid off the couch and made her way to a book shelf before opening a box and pulling out a boxed deck of cards. She slid the cards free and started to shuffle them idly, almost as if out of habit. "Tarot cards are basically a set of cards that all have their own meaning and when used properly, can help provide information or guidance. You just have to ask the right questions and listen carefully. Runes are the same way, but they are small stones with engravings that all hold particular meanings."

She walked back to the couch and posted once again on the arm of it. She directed Kurama to think of a question while she continued to shuffle her cards. Then she did a simple three card spread before him, laying the cards face up and looking them over with a practiced eye. Humming, she nodded to herself.

"Past, present, future." She indicated which card held which significance. "I find it funny that your cards are so well laid out, they work together, but it also seems like you. I mean, the you that I've come to know through stories, at least."

Kurama watched her with interest as she skimmed her fingertips over the first card, the one in the past position. "The Emperor. A highly masculine card. In this position, nearly always references a powerful male influence in one's life. A brother, a father, a lover, a boss. It's also about mind over heart, especially when it plays with the suit of swords, which we find in your future positon, indicating you need to use a fact based approach when handling upcoming business. But with cups in your present spot, it appears that there is either a strong male presence around you, one of authority, or that you are being called on to assume responsibility."

Both of them cut their gazes towards Hiei, who frowned openly and huffed, but didn't look away as he watched the two of them bow their heads over the cards on the couch cushion.

"I wonder who that could be." Kurama muttered dryly.

Victoria laughed, tapping the card in the middle. "Cups is a suit of emotion and the subconscious. The Five of Cups, here, says that you're in a state of grief. You're trapped in a cycle of negative thinking and loss, but you need to focus on the positive of your situation. What you're enduring isn't fun and it's not a welcomed change, but it must be accepted."

Kurama nodded, staring at the card.

"Lastly, we have one of my favorite cards. The Six of Swords. A card of change. In the future, if you utilize that big brain of yours instead of those tumultuous feelings enshrouding you, you'll find better times ahead. A change is coming. In your case, given your situation, I think it's safe to use the escape meaning of the card."

"Indicating that if I keep a clear head, and focus on the best of the situation, we'll find a way home?" Kurama asked her.

"I think so." She nodded back to him, smiling softly.

"That's surprisingly accurate to what I thought of asking." Kurama blinked, fingering the edge of one of the cards. "Divination. Hmm. And you can do this whenever you'd like?"

"Pretty much. Sometimes it's not as accurate though." Victoria shrugged, moving her attention toward Hiei who had begun to watch them with quiet interest some moments before. "You want me to tell your fortune?"

He shifted his attention to the woman herself, then narrowed his eyes and looked to Kurama. "I have no idea what's she saying, she knows that right?"

"She's asking if you want her to read your fortune." Kurama responded with a slight smile. "She's very good at it."

"I'm not interested."

Victoria pulled the dismissal from his tone and gathered the cards, shuffling them back into the deck. With a hum of appreciation, she placed them back into their box and then into the container that housed her runes and notebook and special pens, along with her other materials. On more than one occasion she'd been called a witch by classmates or the people who knew her family.

She guessed that was as good a word as any to describe her but she didn't really devote herself to the title.

Now Grams? Grams was a witch. Full on herbal-remedy, knows-where-to-find-trouble-and-how-to-stop-it, can-tell-what-you-need-looking-at-you, witch. Nothing less. She always called when Victoria needed her and had the most unusual aptitude of providing just the right thing for any situation. It was a strange, comforting ability. Not to mention if you needed protection or cleansing, Grams was the one to call.

No entity has ever been able to stand before Grams' charms without bowing.

Victoria? She was more of a hot mess. She knew the basics of magic. She knew what herbs to use if someone was sick or got a sunburn or felt blue. She knew how to cast her protection circles and how to exorcise malevolent energy. But she wasn't even close to the same level. Granted, there wasn't much reason to be at Grams' level, honestly. Most of the calls for her help were the product of overactive imaginations and superstitious nonsense.

But sometimes it was more. And when it was, she called Grams.

Wetting her lips, she reached into the box and pulled out a piece of tourmaline that shone as dark as night. Slipping it into her pocket she rubbed it like a worry stone, Hiei's critical gaze affecting her a little less.

"I don't know how long you're going to be here. Maybe you should learn to talk." Victoria turned slowly, directing her words toward Hiei. "We need to be able to communicate."

"What's she rambling about?" Hiei turned to Kurama, annoyed.

"She wants you to learn to speak to her."

"Tell her to go fuck herself."

"He's disinclined." Kurama voiced instead and from Hiei's face the other man knew the fox had toned down his statement. "Hiei doesn't like to talk much, as I'm sure you know."

"Sure." Victoria nodded, then began to move her hands as she spoke. "But what if he could talk without speaking?"

"Sign language?" Kurama eyed the precise movements of her fingers she spoke.

Victoria flashed him a smile, then nodded. "Just some basic signs, meant to at least allow him to tell me when he needs something. Food. Clothes. Help. Whatever."

She continued to sign the entire time she was speaking and the rapid articulation of her hands mimicking the flow of her speech made Hiei arch a brow.

"What is she doing now?" He demanded, put out.

"She's using sign language. It translates spoken word into hand movements so that someone who is deaf or mute or otherwise unable or unwilling to speak for whatever reason can communicate." Kurama explained. "She's suggesting you learn this language. You won't have to talk and you'll only have to learn a few gestures to get by."

Hiei rolled his eyes. "No."

"I think she has a point." Kurama argued. "You need to be able to speak to her on some level."

"I have you." Hiei pointed out, unamused. "What do I need to communicate with that woman for?"

Kurama frowned. "Hiei, we could be here for a while. It would be best to make the most of the circumstances."

"No." Hiei repeated firmly, glaring now. "I'm not interested in making myself comfortable here. I don't want to acclimate. I don't want to do anything that might stall us finding our way back."

"Hiei." Kurama sighed the name as if it exhausted him. "Please. Just, for once, attempt to be reasonable."

"No." Hiei emphasized the word, arms crossed over his chest as he sneered.

"Suit yourself." Kurama glared back, gaze turned cold in that way it did when Hiei overstepped in some way. A precise and swift punishment was brewing in those glinting green eyes.

Hiei, planting his feet, felt he could handle whatever was coming his way. This place wasn't home. There would be no crawling vines trying to ensnare him here, no carnivorous plants to look out for. Without his powers, Kurama was merely a human man unaccustomed to losing. So what?

This mentality, Hiei soon learned, was gravely ill-informed and undermined the true pettiness of Kurama's nature.