Evening came around after a round of avoiding to explain to his mother what exactly was going on between him and Amara. The girl managed to get a few hours of sleep, but Kurama was restless. Even if he laid down with the curtains drawn, his eyes were wide open in the dark. He had to speak with Hiei... They had worked wonderfully together in the past, and the more he thought about the magnitude of what was going to happen, the more certain he became that he was going to need Hiei's help. His other contacts were all unfit. Perhaps Touya could be subtle enough, but he wasn't anywhere near as strong as Hiei, and to be perfectly honest, he didn't trust him to the same extent. Kurama didn't doubt his loyalty, but he did doubt his efficiency. Jin, Chu, Shishi, and Rinku were out of the question from the start - too loud, too easily excited by battle, too risky. Suzuka... perhaps?

Kurama sat up in bed. The Fruit of the Previous Life did help him survive Karasu. Then again, there had been a few years since that fight and he could now transform into his demonic form at will. Even so, that wasn't the only trick up Suzuka's sleeve. He helped Kuwabara enhance his signature Spirit Sword as well. He might still be into the special items and artifacts business. Kurama was willing to buy an item honestly if it could help him enhance his power. It was always a good idea to have something that your enemy was unaware existed, an element of surprise - even if only to be used as a last resort.

He also knew the places where Kuronue and he had hidden large portions of their stash. They were left well-guarded in highly inaccessible places and surrounded by rows between rows of deadly plants raised on his energy, but he hadn't checked up on them in centuries, in some cases. Gold and platinum, jewels, art pieces, weapons, maps, documents, and perhaps most importantly... seeds, preserved specimens, extracts, along with his notes of the trials and errors he had made, effects, characteristics, and basically everything needed to master each species. When he wasn't planning an attack, training his men, or having sex with some women, Youko was following his passion with such enthusiasm, that Kuronue called it an obsession on more than once occasion.

There were few things he left undocumented. Whenever he found some new plant species, he had to press it, draw it, document its origins, its forms, relatives, substances contained. He included how to cultivate it, with which species it would survive, which were a threat to the plant and which would be overpowered by its presence. He noted the defense mechanisms and the offenses if present. He even included details on the effects of his demonic energy on each of them, times of exposure and different environments, observations from battle.

What worried him most now was that he had included his hybrids and the research he had conducted in creating new specimens, far superior to those created by nature, selectively bred to accentuate certain traits - be it for medical uses, poisonous extracts, or viciousness. If those notes were to fall into the wrong hands...

The worry brought out his true form, and as much as he tried to contain his energy, he could hear the plants feeding off of it and pushing out new growth unnaturally fast. The sound of roots slithering through the soil and of leaves unfurling was satisfying, but he also heard something else. It was metallic and sharp, coming from the room he had offered Amara. Was it right to involve a mere human in all of this? Yusuke proved himself a halfling, which did explain a few lucky strikes, but this girl was certainly human. He could feel it in her scent, there was nothing demonic about her, nothing otherworldly.

As her weapon activated, the girl woke up in full alert. The sun hadn't set completely, but at first, Amara thought it was already dawn. The clock on the wall showed it was half-past eight, although it was too dark for it to be the AM. Calming herself, she deactivated her weapon, and the two pins returned to their usual size. Amara caught up her hair and planned to smoke a cigarette before going back to bed.

From the doorway, she could see him sitting with his legs crossed on the extended sofa, shirtless and covered by the sheets to his waist. He was leaning with his elbows on his knees, staring at the vertical jungle he had set up on the wall, his silver hair glimmering in the low, golden light of the sunset that still found a place to dodge the curtains. That would have been a king-sized bed, but she wasn't sure Youko would be able to lay down completely in it without his legs hanging over the edge. There wasn't one scar on his body - none that she could see, at least.

Feeling her presence, Youko turned to look at the Exorcist. A Spirit Detective, a Shaman, a spiritually-aware mortal whose job was to hunt down and kill demons finding their way into the Human world... So frail and insignificant in comparison to him, or any other demon of his class.

He saw the marks of the sheets still printed on her arm and side. Amara seemed fond of the color purple. Most of her closet was a variation of purples and violets, with occasional contrasts, and her tank top and shorts were no exception. They were a light shade of purple, a pastel, as Kuronue would call it, with three strands of lavender embodied on the front. He saw the scar tissue covering the entirety of her legs. There were a few holes that hadn't yet filled on her right calf, and they probably never will... His apartment had always seemed small when he was in this form, but Amara seemed to fit right in.

After a moment, he saw her cheeks catching color and he smiled weakly. The low light was no impediment for his demon eyes.

"...I thought you'd be asleep," she mumbled.

Youko shifted, leaning on his hands and pulling himself closer to the backrest of the extended sofa. He leaned against its pillows.

"Exactly what you should be doing."

She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed, turning her eyes away. "My weapon activated again and woke me up. You're usually asleep when you transform."

"Sorry," he said without any meaning. "Somebody has to make a plan."

"Did you come up with anything yet?" She returned into her room briefly to grab her cigarettes and lighter.

"I always do," Youko answered her once he saw her frame again. He watched her walking past him, avoiding him with her eyes, opening the balcony door and stepping outside. "Not the healthiest habit - I assume you know."

"It calms me down, though... It's not like I'm going to live that long, anyway," Amara said as she leaned against the wall and lit up a cigarette. She sneaked a peak towards the demon. The light was pouring into the dark living room through the open door now, highlighting his sculpted body.

Throwing the sheet off, Youko stood up and stretched just a little bit. Amara noticed that the boxers were a little tight - clearly, his two forms didn't match sizes. Looking away, she took another drag and watched as darkness fell over the city and the lights turned on below them, in the street.

Youko walked towards her lazily, but his steps carried him across the room almost instantly. He noticed with pleasure that the tiles on his balcony were still warm from the afternoon sun - one of the perks of having his flat facing the South. He then took the pack from the window sill and helped himself, lighting a cigarette as well.

Amara's eyes widened in surprise and she couldn't help but look up at him. "I thought you didn't smoke."

"Shuichi and I may share many things... Our preferences - not always. I was curious about your human cigarettes."

Amused, the girl tilted her head. "How is it, then?"

"Bland... but I suppose most humans wouldn't enjoy anything stronger." He smiled in amusement. His lungs were consuming the cigarette faster than Amara.

"Why am I not surprised...? Everything has to be hardcore with you, demons."

As silence filled the air and she felt his eyes on her again, Amara tried to open another subject for conversation.

"Did you turn her down, or did you sleep with her?"

"Ranna is a very attractive woman... but she's crazy, so no, I haven't slept with her."

Amara began laughing. "Excuse me?!"

"She's the one who chased me, which wouldn't be out of the ordinary... if she hadn't sent out an army of Shadows to hunt down and kill my men. She tried to find our stashes, and when she failed, she began capturing my men and torturing them for information. What Botan described reminded me of how she would return my men to me - brutally tortured, incoherent, and often infected with various contagious diseases for which even I had a difficult time creating a cure. Now, normally, I welcome a challenge, but it had gotten to the point where her very existence was slowing me down."

The girl puffed out some smoke. "You're bragging less in your human form, but I see your point."

"Is it really bragging if it's true?" he smirked.

"I don't know. It still sounds the same," she smiled. "What kind of demon is she?"

"A Raven. I had fought one a few years ago, in the Dark Tournament, and I was barely able to maintain my human form alive." Youko put out his already consumed cigarette and threw it away.

She nodded with a hum as she exhaled more smoke. "What kind of powers does she have?"

"I haven't seen Ranna fighting. Her Shadows do everything for her. If I were to guess though, I would expect her to possess the ability to create bombs out of her energy, much like the one I fought before."

"That ability with her description doesn't seem like the most joyful combination. Ravens are rare, too..."

"There's a good reason for that. Ravens devour their mother at birth. If they are unable to do that, the mother kills and consumes them. This way, only the strong survive, while the weaklings are being plucked like weeds."

Amara cringed. "Ew." The thought of the newborn devouring its mother was sickening, but the reversed image made her even more grossed out. "...Ew. That's disgusting."

"Nature can be cruel, at times," Youko noted. "You should be more worried about Shin if she still has him."

"Who's that?" Amara hadn't hoped for so much information, but if Youko felt like talking, why not? Something told her this was her only chance to find out more about their new enemy.

"Shin is the closest one of the Shadows to Ranna. He's a Scorpion demon of remarkable strength and power. A century ago when I met him, he was able to defeat twelve of my men on his own and had introduced himself as Supreme General of the Shadows. He was claiming to had mastered every known weapon and fighting style, from the traditional to the more unconventional, and was wearing cuffs around his wrists and ankles to restrain his demonic power. He was under orders to escort me and Kuronue to Ranna, without killing anyone in the process, but that didn't mean he hadn't caused any damage."

Amara felt her throat tightening and a cold chill down her spine. She knew well enough that the body could endure a tremendous amount of damage without dying.

"...Alright, sounds friendly enough."

Youko let out a chuckle. "You're afraid. That's what you should be. The Shadows are enough to send the vast majority of demons into hiding. Stripping them of their emotions, morals, and free will is part of the initialization. They are being trained in extreme conditions restlessly, and only allowed to go outside once they have reached a certain level."

"I've heard of the first two, but free will? What, does she have them in some form of mind control?"

The demon went back inside and Amara gasped as her cigarette burned her. She dropped it, but picked it up carefully, put it out, and threw it away.

"I think she breaks their spirit. I only know the overall characteristics, as Ranna offered me an army of Shadows if I were to rule her kingdom. Of course, she only needed a male puppet for the public, as demons are usually misogynistic."

In awe, Amara followed him. "Wait a second. You're telling me she needs a frontman, but she's able to control an army of killing machines?"

"Precisely. The masses are not easy to control, child." Youko laid on his side diagonally on the bed, resting his head on his palm. "Slaughtering them leaves no one left to control, which makes the entire idea of becoming a ruler pointless. Are you just going to stand in the doorway?"

Brought back to reality, Amara closed the balcony door behind her, allowing the room to sink into darkness even more than before. She didn't feel very comfortable sitting next to Youko, but at the same time, it was rather tempting.

"I appreciate the information, but why are you telling me this now?"

He waited for her to come closer. "I think you should know before you make up your mind permanently. Once we do cross into the Desert, there will be no turning back."

Amara sat on the outer corner of the bed that was still free and crossed her arms. "I already told you I'm going."

"Aren't you going to give me a speech about how you won't let me go there alone?"

He smirked. Amara was sure of it, she could hear it in his voice. "...I explained myself once."

Youko could feel her nervousness. He could hear her heart beating faster.

"You're very concerned about my other form."

"Well, I did receive a great favor by staying here."

"I could help you with the scars. Your wounds didn't heal well enough. It's remarkable you still have your legs, judging by the signs of the attack."

She took a moment to consider the idea. "Why would you help me?"

"Haven't you questioned me enough?"

Thornless, fibrous vines slithered from underneath the extended sofa and up the girl's legs and back. Before she could do anything, a vine picked up her hairpins from above and placed them against the ceiling, wrapping her deactivated weapon into a cocoon of vegetation. Instinct told her to struggle, but she was unable to fight back without her weapon. As the sun had already set, but the curtains were still in place, Amara couldn't even see in front of her.

A pair of large hands picked her up like a doll and laid her down. The vines were still wrapped around her lower body, which did give her an odd sense of security, but then her tank top was being pulled up. Both the vines and his palms filled the space between her body and the fabric as he pushed up her arms and led her top over her head.

Author's note:

Cut scene available at Fanfiction s/13506485/1/Research-Cut-Scenes
Before you proceed, remember the cut scenes are rated M for various reasons, including mostly lemons, or violent, gory, abusive scenarios that could trigger some people. They are also shorter by roughly 1000 words than the normal Research chapters. They are part of Research, but not necessary for the plot development, as events will be briefly mentioned here in a T-rating-friendly manner.

Please favorite, follow, and review. I'd love to hear your opinion on the development and on the characters.

Fun fact: I am also writing a story called Reflection for the True Blood fandom and I mistakenly posted part of a Research chapter there while meaning to update. Accidents happen, I suppose. The funniest thing? Not only was it wrong - it wasn't even a completed chapter.

Fun note: it's a chapter with Youko in his underwear. Did anyone imagine this would NOT include a cut scene? LOL