Chapter 15 (Part 1)

MINAMINO HOUSEHOLD:

Two hours had passed after Hiei left to do time travel, and he perhaps had already reached Spirit World of the past timeline, Kurama thought. He had no school to attend, so he was spending some mother and son time before his tutoring lesson at the park in the afternoon. He helped Shiori to make lunch after they cleaned the house and they´d worked together outside in the garden.

"Shuichi, where's Hiei? I haven't seen him in lately," Shiori started the conversation out of the blue as she was cleaning the dirty pots in the sink.

"Oh, he's doing something for Spirit World for a couple of days. He'll be back soon, mother," Kurama replied quietly as he was cutting vegetables next to her from a fair distance on the kitchen counter.

After checking for the meat in that was placed in the oven for some time, Shiori couldn't help but to notice the thoughtful expression on her son's face. She could tell a lot from this: "You care about him, don't you?" she asked straightforward.

"Well, we are working as a team, so why wouldn't I?" her son answered in the same quiet tone.

"He is becoming somehow dear to you," Shiori said as she became specific on what she was referring to.

That statement brought a reaction on Kurama that he stopped his task to clarify himself: "Mother...That's just my nature to care for others."

Shiori smiled at him, "Hiei is different… and I'm sure that he also cares about you in his own way because he shows it with his actions. Just give him time to open up to you."

Kurama felt like getting flustered but tried his best to keep calm. His own mother can bring sometimes the best of him when he least expected it. "Um, how much longer for lunch?" he tried to change the subject as he in a clever and subtle fashion went back to his task of cutting the vegetables for the salad.

Shiori chuckled because she knew that Kurama was being in denial and probably as well in a state of ignorance to his own feelings. She was not going to press him any further with the delicate subject. "It will be ready soon, honey. When you are finished making the salad, please get the table ready," she said as she saw the oven timer getting closer to the zero countdown.

SPIRIT WORLD (ONE YEAR BACK INTO THE PAST):

Koenma was sitting on his desk doing his paperwork until George came inside the office to announce the following as he stood in the middle of the room: "Lord Koenma. We have a rather peculiar stranger visiting us from the future. He is actually a demon that is working for us."

This alerted Koenma yet he took the announcement rather well because he was expecting it: "Interesting…This type of happenings only occurs one in a million."

"Sir, have you already forgot about that memo request that you already gave your seal of approval to your future self?" George tried to remind Koenma about the message that was received yesterday.

Koenma shook his head in an annoyed fashion. "No, I haven't, you dolt. Bring our guest at once!" he ordered.

George nodded his head in obedience as he turned to the door and made a gesture with a hand. "Right this away, young man!" he exclaimed as he stepped aside to hold the door to let the guest enter.

Then, Koenma observed Future Hiei making his way inside the room and he stopped in front of the desk. "Greetings. Your name is Hiei, correct?"

Hiei just nodded his head as he was ready to receive orders on how to proceed with the mission.

"Hiei, I must say that your timing is impeccable as I was expecting you at a later time after the time travel," Koenma said before clearing his throat and united his hands together.

"As per my future-self request, I have Kurama coming in this office very soon because I'd instructed Botan to bring him. He is also a demon just like you but from another species. However, he is a permanent resident in the Human World who agreed to help Spirit World after he became a teenager, in which his demonic powers would fully mature, and we had put it to good use. We cannot afford to have Demon World's Legendary Bandit doing as he please and he must maintain a good record for once. His extensive list of the sins that he had committed on his previous past life gives me nothing but a lot of paperwork and headaches."

Hiei found the newfound information interesting on what happened to the notorious Fox Demon during the 14-year gap…So Shuichi Minamino and Youko Kurama were one being…

"Ah Botan!"

Koenma's announcement made Hiei to stop pondering and he turn to look at Botan from the past. She looked the same as her future self.

Botan stood next to Hiei and she vowed in respect to her employer before making her report: "Koenma, sir. My apologies but Kurama said that he needed to study at the library for an upcoming exam. He said that he will meet up with Hiei at the hotel to get better acquainted with him tomorrow afternoon."

Koenma was unfazed with the inconvenience because Hiei and Kurama still had a week from now to defeat Majora: "Well I can't blame Kurama for being a good citizen and a straight A plus student…Botan, please show Hiei where he will be staying at and provide him with whatever he needs for his stay. He can even use daddy's credit card."

"As you wish, Lord Koenma!"

HOTEL CHERRY BLOSSOM: HOTEL ROOM #329

After leaving Spirit World together and checking in at the front desk for the assigned room number, Hiei looked around the surroundings of his own hotel room. He wasn't impressed in the least that he had a frown upon his face.

"I think this was too much. I can sleep perfectly outside on a tree," Hiei commented to Botan, whom unlike him, was taken away with the hotel's features and commodities.

Botan raised an eyebrow to the strange accommodation request. She was also on her human form as she wore casual clothing of a pink shirt, tennis shoes and blue jeans. "A tree? Hiei, you are so simple. Feel free to get accommodated: there's a gym, a spa, a pool—!"

"Only frivolous humans would enjoy such things!" Hiei said in retort as he had interrupted the ferry girl.

"Koenma doesn't want you to sleep on trees and that was a direct order that you can't ignore," Botan said firmly as she raised a finger to the stubborn fire demon.

Hiei shrugged his shoulders. He then remembered that the hotel was only temporary so he will do his best to deal with it: "Whatever,"

Botan tried to maintain her composure before the bad-tempered demon. She assumed that he didn't need anything else for his stay, and he already had the credit card with him. "Is there anything else I can assist you with before I leave?" she asked rather politely.

"That is all, ferry girl. You can take your leave now," Hiei said as he dismissed Botan with a waving hand as if she was an obedient servant.

"Well, I'll be checking on you two later to see how's the case coming along. Bye for now!" Botan said as she made her way out of the room and closed the door…

…She then revealed her real emotions of relief mixed with frustration out at the hallway: "Ugh!¨she exclaimed with her fist clenched on her sides as she stomped her way out of the hotel: "Hiei is such a big meanie! It's a record that I put up with him during this whole afternoon! Koenma better give me a raise for this! Ayame WAS the best girl for this assignment! Not me! Nope!"

THE NATIONAL PARK (FUTURE TIMELINE):

"Ah Keiko, good timing!" Kurama greeted the girl as he waved his hand from the picnic blanket on the ground that he had set up for the tutoring lesson that laid under a tree. The weather was of 70 degrees, which it was perfect for the occasion.

"Ah this is so nice, Kurama! I'm so glad you brought this suggestion of doing the tutoring lessons at the park instead of being cooped up at the library!" Keiko was delighted that it was relieving her stress of the upcoming midterms. She set her bag down and the basket full of food on the edge of the big blanket to then take her seat next to her tutor.

Kurama smiled warmly at Keiko. "All right then, shall we get started?"

Forty-five minutes had passed since Kurama began tutoring Keiko on Precalculus…Keiko understood very well the calm and detail explanation of the redhead. She was currently practicing some exercises that came on the mock exam that couldn't answer well on the first attempt and got a low grade of 79.9 for it.

Out of the blue, Kurama gets a telepathic message on his mind as he was sitting with his back leaning on the tree and was reading his Japanese Literature book: Hello, Kurama! We are almost going to capture Maya´s soul. Just keep distracting Keiko for a bit longer as I get ready.

Kurama remained on his position without making movements: …Understood.

"Gee. I wonder where he is at…"

This time Kurama stopped reading his Japanese Literature book to look at the unfocused Keiko. He got curious of her rambling as he found it as the perfect opportunity to keep her distracted.

"I'm sorry," Keiko sighed as she was in deep thought and looked at Kurama. "It's somebody I know. He said something crazy about being out of town for a while and he didn't give me much details about…School has been rather quiet without him and that's the new topic at school. I'm a hundred percent sure that Kuwabara might know a thing or two of his whereabouts but he refuses to even give me a clue."

"What's his name?"

"Does Yusuke Urameshi sound familiar to you? He has the reputation of resident bad boy and troublemaker in this city."

Immediately, Kurama remembered Yusuke being mentioned at Spirit World that he realized that knew the truth. He chose not to speak as Kuwabara did. "Not that I heard of him or his questionable reputation…I would best advice you to not worry much for Yusuke. He had his personal reasons and it is best to give him some space. I'm certain that he will come back soon," he made it sound as real as possible, and it was thanks to the fact that, in his opinion, Hiei and Yusuke were somehow similar.

"Kurama, you are right. I shouldn't worry anymore for that jerk and instead focus on these lousy midterms!" Keiko said with a regained determination.

Kurama chuckled softly at her change of attitude… "I don't blame you. I know exactly what you are feeling as you wait for Yusuke to come back."

Keiko raised an eyebrow and she did a double look on the redhead: "Hold on. Are you waiting for someone as well?" she wasn't expecting him to open up to her. Kurama was usually reserved with his personal matters… This was the second time that he had opened to her…

Kuarama was lost for words that his emerald eyes went wide. He couldn't believe that somehow slipped carelessly: "Yeah, well, sort of…" he managed to say.

Keiko giggled as she realized the following: "Sounds to me that you like that person and you already miss that person! Come on, Kurama. You must admit it! You looooove someone!" she sang playfully as her mood had lifted. "You can tell me anything! I promise that I'll keep this between us," she said with a genuine smile.

Kurama found himself a little embarrassed; first his mother was teasing him, and it was currently Keiko´s turn to do that. He decided that a break from studying for midterms was in order. To be honest, he felt like he needed a friend to talk about his real feelings… Keiko seemed as a reliable friend than Botan when it comes to handling confidential information. He then remembered Shizuru Kuwabara out of the blue; she was also a confidential person but not in the way that he was expecting from Keiko Yukimura due to her dry and cynical nature.

"I would use the term love rather loosely. I barely know this person; a complete mystery, I might add," he confessed with intrigue.

Keiko was intrigued as well that she inquired her new friend. "So, there's a possibility that you might really end up falling in love with this person? But first, what does this other girl think about you?"

Keiko's question had caught Karama off guard, who did not know what to say in return this time. "I…I—" he got interrupted when he sensed that a flash of energy was flying towards them.

"Minamino! Watch out!" Keiko yelled as she stood up and she got in front of Kurama and blocked the blue energy with a hand that created an invisible barrier that it reflected the energy. She formed an energy ball on her left hand and threw it to the direction that the first attack came from.

Kurama gasped a Keiko's newfound talent that he was in shock and amazement from his position on the ground.

Botan reacted quickly to the counterattack that she came out from her hiding spot to face Keiko.

Keiko furrowed her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips. "I knew that Charlene wasn't your average human! You want a piece of me!? You got it coming!" she said as she was ready to form another energy on her right hand to defend herself from Botan's upcoming spiritual attacks.

"Oi, I wouldn't do that if I were you! It would only weaken the human host!" Botan exclaimed to Keiko or rather the spirit inside Keiko so she can react to her actions. "Maya Kitamija, we finally found you. Please surrender the human host and come to Spirit World. You have been among the living for far too long, which it is violating one of our many codes."

Keiko´s eyes got wide in reaction to be called by another name. "I don't know what you are talking about! I'm Keiko Yukimura!" she exclaimed angrily in defense.

Kurama didn't believed her: Maya was not very good at lying. He stood up from the ground and he placed a hand on Keiko's left shoulder. "Just surrender peacefully, Kitamija," he said gently.

The touch made Keiko to react this time…Then she revealed her identity. Keiko closed her eyes as spiritual energy surrounded her to transform into Maya.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause this trouble. I couldn't go to Spirit World just yet without seeing Minamino or my parents one last time," Maya said apologetically to Botan.

"Before we depart, you have to return Kurama's stolen memories," Botan said firmly.

"Yes, of course… Every night, he would have nightmare about that scary Karasu so Master Genkai had taught me how to do it," Maya said to then turn to look at Kurama. She raised a hand and Kurama found himself surrounded by a light blue spiritual energy: "All right, here goes."

Karama could feel the surge of energy in an instant that is especially going through his brain…

Maya smiled at her childhood friend when the painless process was finished: "Minamino, good to see you finally recovered. I can tell that your demon powers are not the sa—" she changed the subject that she gasped in delight. She approached closer to Kurama and examined his long hair with Keiko's hands and fingers. Kurama wanted to say something but it didn't interfere with Maya's antics: "You let your hair grow! I told you that it would look good on you! So soft! I know this good shampoo and conditioner product to keep your hair nice and good! Good job for zero split ends!"

Kurama all could do was to give out a nervous laugh.

Botan cleared her throat: "I'll give you two a few minutes, ok?" she said as she left the scene.

Maya blushed since it was one of those rare times that she was alone with the redhead…However, she had to maintain herself for what was to come next. "Well… I guess this is goodbye for good… Be strong, Minamino. You don't have to be guilty of what happened in the past so it's time for you to accept it as your destiny and move on to the bright future," she said sadly.

Kurama felt the relief and the invisible weight on his shoulder dissolving. He remembered everything clearly upon the return of his lost memories as his stronger and former self…he sighed. He was no longer a demon but still held the powers somehow. "You may be gone from the human realm but you will not be forgotten, Kitamija. You'll have a place in my heart," he said to her.

Upon hearing the touching words, tears fell from the girl's eyes dripping down both her cheeks. She hugged Kurama with all her might and closed her eyes. "Thanks, Minamino. It means a lot to me coming from you. Now I can rest in peace in the other life."

Maya was very grateful that Kurama for the first time did hug her in return. She could not be with Kurama as she wanted… Not only for being deceased but because he loved someone else... She was fine with it: she cared for his happiness, and she hoped with her good heart that the other person would do the same for Kurama.

NEXT DAY IN THE PAST: MEIOU HIGH SCHOOL

Kurama was attending his Feudal Japanese History that he and the rest of the class were reading quietly the textbook while the instructor came back.

Also, Kurama had this thoughtful look on his face with his arms crossed to his chest. He looked to the window located at the left side of the room. He was the only one in the class not reading since he already did last night before bedtime.

His mind wandered: 'I guess that I'm not ready to see him after all these years. I wonder what he will think of me now the way I am…' his thoughts then were interrupted.

"Minamino, are you okay? Lately, you seem rather gloomy."

Kurama turn his attention to his classmate, who was sitting next to him.

The conversation between Shuichi Minamino and Maya Kitamija picked up Yuu Kaito's attention that he pretended to read the textbook listen as he sat on his desk behind to his class nemesis. Much like Kurama, Kaito did also his textbook reading last night.

"We can talk afterschool about today's homework, Kitamija. I'll be at the usual place," Kurama said calmly as he tried his best to not to show more of his state of mind through his body language.

"Yes, of course," Maya said in agreement with a smile. She could also sense a demonic energy within the city. She could already tell that might be Kurama's next spiritual case and the reason why he might be apprehended: it might be his strongest foe yet…

'Perhaps, they'll talk about that demonic energy and Kurama, as usual, will go deal with it,' Kaito thought with a smirk as he adjusted his glasses. He knew very well of Kurama's secret and Maya's abilities as a psychic. In fact, he knew Kurama's predictable work schedule as a Spirit Detective like the palm of his hand, which happens to be right afterschool.

Meanwhile, Hiei went to roam around the Human World to look for Kurama…He had done some meditation training for the Jagan eye during the morning. It was already afternoon, and Hiei wasn't going to wait for Kurama to come to the hotel. Instead, he will find the fox demon and he knew where to find him after searching for his demonic energy.

On his way to Meiou High School, the Jagan eye had sensed for Hiei three rather familiar energies coming from another school… 'There's the Spirit Detective, the girl I'd held hostage before and the stupid one. I can deal with them right now. Then again, it will be no fun since the detective don't have enough power to fight,' he said mentally and shook his head as he jumped building to building in the city as a dark shadow flash…

…

…Kurama was sitting on his favorite tree outside on the school's recreation area waiting for his classmate. Maya was delayed on meeting with him after taking their last class of Physical Education…Nevertheless, he waited patiently for her to discuss the next spiritual case.

He ran a hand through his short hair…He felt a little anxious and it was unlike him to be that way…He sighed. 'I can feel his presence approaching me…' he then decided to keep calm by closing his eyes for a second and leaned his back to the tree…As he reopened his eyes a minute later, Hiei appeared in midair and stood right before him.

The two of them broke into a locking stare…Hiei and Kurama stared at each other for what it seemed an eternity…

"Well, well. We finally meet, Kurama," Hiei said by breaking the ice. After knowing him for a long time back in the demon realm, it was unlikely for Kurama to be quiet and to speak after him. Kurama would usually initiate the conversations between them.

Kurama smiled after he stood up from his seat on the ground; perhaps Hiei might not recognize him… "You must be Mr. Hiei. Nice to meet you," he said politely.

Hiei narrowed his eyes: so Kurama wanted to pretend something else? He needed to stop acting his foolish act! "Drop the formality. Let's see how good you are in battle, human," he said coldly with a clenched right fist.

Kurama's eyes widen because Hiei was serious in fighting him at the wrong place. Hiei had never changed his ways. "Wait, I don't think we should battle against each oth—" he tried to use reason with the other demon.

"Come on now, weakling. I want to see what you are truly capable of. If I win, we must go do that mission tonight," Hiei said as he was able to convince the redhead with his last sentence to do his bidding.

Kurama narrowed his eyes as he got interested in fighting Hiei even if it was a bad idea. He approached close to Hiei to put a hand on his left shoulder. "Fair enough. I will state and claim my prize if I win. I know the place so please take us there," he said.

Just then Maya appeared running and stopped before them: "I'm sorry I'm late!" she exclaimed as she tried to catch her breath... "Huh? Minamino, where are you going with him?" she asked as she sensed that the new fellow was using his own power to use teleportation.

"I got myself a matter to handle. I'll be back as soon as possible," Kurama said, hoping that Maya didn't meddle on this particular situation for the sake of her safety.

"Okay! Be careful! I'm going home now!" Maya said in support of the situation and she pointed a finger towards Hiei. "Hey! You better not hurt him, okay!? Or you be sorry that you ever did in the first place! Minamino is stronger than he looks, fire demon!"

"Hn," Hiei ignored the human girl's warnings as he and Kurama teleported to a new location for their upcoming battle.