A/N: Sorry for the extremely late update, I've been searching for beta readers and found one but they got busy and haven't contacted me back yet

so yeah, I just decided to post another chapter for now without their help still ^_^;

Chapter 7

Unexpected Things

A youthful, handsome voice filled the darkness of the limo.

"It would seem the crow keeps better company than I'd expected..."

A second voice, this one more gravely and mysterious, mingled into the conversation.

"Oh? What information have you for me, boy?"

In the dimmed lighting, a sheen of perfect white teeth could be seen as the first of the two conversing smiled.

"She smells different," He started, moving his head towards the darkly tinted windows. "and, it made my mouth water just to be in the same building as her. She looked delicious as well."

"Did you approach this woman at all?"

"I did my best, but that damn crow had his eyes on me. I don't think he knows much of anything," The man smirked. "well, of course he doesn't. But his senses were alerted to me, even if he hadn't registered it for himself yet, I could."

"Hm. Did you follow her?"

"I followed the crow. I felt I could dispose of him-"

"Are you stupid?! You can't-"

"No, no, I know that. I must apologize in advance- I was in a particularly bad mood that day... However, I got lucky. As I approached, the crow was already busy with someone else. Someone who caught my interest, actually."

"Get on with it, stop delaying!" The second voice hissed menacingly.

The youth continued, albeit more nervously than before because of his company's growing and unsettling temper. "It was a lion-dog familiar, but he was different somehow... more, free. As if he had no master, like he was wild-"

"Hn. Unimportant. However, what's that crow doing business with a mutt for? Or, perhaps, they're both interested in the girl-"

"No, I heard most of their conversation. The dog was threatening the crow. Seemed angry about him having any relationship with what he called his 'master'."

"So then, the girl has a lion-dog spirit on her side, protecting her?"

"Yes, but that isn't all of it. The two argued for some time, and it would seem it was not Kurama's own decision to participate with the woman, in whatever project they are doing together. He was forced into it by her familiar."

"Stop, for a moment, boy. Only the gods have lion-dog familiars. Are you implying that the strange woman is a god that we do not know of? Unlikely."

"The dog seems very loyal to her, calling her his master-"

"As I said." The voice was stern. "It is unlikely, so drop the suggestion. Perhaps he is working for someone on the girl's behalf..."

There was a long, silent pause in the car where neither person spoke and the atmosphere seemed to fill with an almost peaceful aura as the two began wondering in their own heads about all the possibilities. The air soon filled with an unpleasant darkness though, once again, when the older voice spoke.

"As it stands now, with what little information we have, here are your orders." There was a slight pause as the figure seemed to adjust in his seat across from his associate. "Find out more about the girl. Expose her. I want to know what she is. Get close to the crow if you must, and make sure that the dog doesn't catch on, as he could initiate problems for us."

A sly smile came from the young man given the instructions.

"I won't let you down. Whatever it is that Mimori Hizuru is hiding, I will find it out."

As she walked down the sidewalk towards her distant destination, Hizuru couldn't help but feel as though something was very off.

Not for the first time within her short walk, she turned around abruptly, spinning her head this way and that to catch sight of anything behind her. Fortunately, all there was to see was a clear blue day, rain clouds dispersed and the streets and sidewalk half-filled with families, children and parents running about, their destination being the park she was just now walking along the sidewalk of. Unfortunately, she couldn't still shake the feeling that she was being followed.

"Whoever it is, they surely can't approach me with all these people around." She decided, and turned her attention back to walking, if not a little faster this time, towards one of her favorite spots in the park.

The circle of trees she so enjoyed looked rather fresh today, the leaves seemingly more green than the last time she visited. It just went to show what good the spring weather was doing for the park's wildlife. As Hizuru let out a soft, content sort of sigh, she eased herself down onto the bench settled between two of the trees, her eyes tearing up slightly as she gave a rather large yawn that implied just how tired she truly was.

She had just gotten back from Kurama's house- for today was the day they were supposed to meet up once again. But while there, a phone call had interrupted them just as they began to start their studying together, and he had to make his unexpected leave. He had hardly apologized, and though she was annoyed, she had hardly cared. The driver had dropped her off at her home, but seeing that no one was home (her sister was with her friends and Peppi was at work) she hadn't really felt obliged to stay, especially if it meant being cooped up in a lonely house for the rest of the day, so she had traveled to her favorite spot in the park.

The reason she was tired, and also the reason she came here specifically, was because she hadn't been able to sleep one wink ever since the tea kettle incident two days ago with Kurama, and coming here relaxed her completely, making her feel at peace for once. She had been worrying too much about the damn lion-dog that was causing trouble for her- though she was sure he thought he was actually helping her out, she had no way to contact him, so she was worried he was going to continue to stalk Kurama, and she didn't want that.

She wanted, for some reason, to be able to trust Kurama. And since trust went both ways, she really wanted him to trust her as well.

But obviously, he wouldn't if someone she was associated with was following him around and forcing him to do stuff for her sake!

"Damned dog and his need to please me..." She sighed, stretching out her limbs and leaning happily into the wood of the bench. She'd just have to worry later, right now she should enjoy a good, long rest.

Though how had he found her again? And why, was he getting so caught up in all of this? He knew about the curse and all, and he knew how unhappy it made her. Maybe, he really just wanted to make Kurama help her- and he always was one to do anything to make her happy, so it made sense that he was practically threatening the crow for her. But then, that dog didn't need to help her out- not like before. He just liked to for some reason. Sure, they were sort of like friends, she and him... after all, she'd known him for a fairly long time... but he treated her more like his owner than anything- she remembered the days where he used to ask her- beg her- to boss him around, his tail wagging back and forth for the emphasis of how happy following an order would make him.

"Mamoru..." She sighed, as she closed her eyes. "You idiot."

"I'm your idiot, Hizu-chan."

Her eyes snapped open and she was about to scream at the sudden figure looming over her, but a hand was placed over her mouth before that could happen. Leaning over her now, was a tall young man with youthfully wide puppy-dog eyes, blinking at her apologetically.

"Didn't mean to scare you." He stated, moving away and straightening himself upright when he realized she would not scream.

Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes travelling from the top of his hat to the bottom edge of his jeans, where his shoes poked out beneath the fabric.

"Mamoru?" She stated rather stupidly, blinking uncertainly. He looked the same, but different somehow as well... but maybe that was just because she hadn't seen him in years.

She was really not expecting this encounter to take place, but now that it was, she couldn't very well do anything to stop it. If she remembered this man, then she remembered just how stubbornly loyal he could be- to the point of utter frustration.

The young man gave her a cheery smile, one that seemed to say 'that's me!' as his large, dark hazel eyes shone with a playful light. If his tail weren't hidden at the moment, she assumed that it would be whipping back and forth behind him excitedly.

"You looked troubled. And," He suddenly sniffed the air, and let out a very sad whine. "You smell like that crow." His frown marred his youthful, beautiful face, making it look suddenly dark and threatening. "Did he upset you?"

Suddenly, Hizuru seemed to come to her senses, her shock slowly fading. "YOU upset me." She insisted, though she was being much less harsh with him then she would with other people. "Mamoru, what the hell are you doing stalking Kurama? And me!" She added on, realizing now that he must have been the one following her.

The young man whined like a small animal, pouting only slightly. "Sorry? Thought I was helping."

"You-" Suddenly, she sighed, feeling ridiculous as he was now kneeling before her, eye-level now with her.

"I really thought I was helping," He explained fervently. "That tengu didn't seem as if he was going to help you out, and so I only pushed him a little bit-"

"He told me you were stalking him. And," She paused to pull her phone out of her pocket. "I get a text from him every time you threaten him, or when he senses you watching him. There are a lot in here..." She started to scroll through her texts, but her companion stopped her hand, instead cherishing it in his.

When she looked to his face though, he had switched from apologetic to grinning sweetly. "I was only considering what's in your best interest."

"So you think it's in my best interest to have the man helping me be blackmailed into doing so? Mamoru, I want Kurama to trust me."

The lion-dog familiar wrinkled his nose at this. "You don't need to trust anyone but me. And besides, he's a tengu-"

"Don't be so biased... And anyway, you hang out with a mere human like me, how is that not worse than a tengu for company to you?"

The young man stood up, now standing over her once again. "Master, we both know you are much more than just any ordinary human."

Hizuru stood as well, stepping up to him. "Not by that much, idiot. And don't call me master, we've been over this."

He whined, and she imagined that underneath his hat, his ears were pressed sadly to his head. "But you are my master-"

"I've never been that." She insisted. "Not even before was I your master... you were just assigned to me."

"Which reminds me," He was suddenly all business, becoming serious as he leaned in closer to her. "to ease all confusion you may be feeling at my sudden reappearance, I've come to inform you. I've been assigned to protect you once again."

"By who? My parents are dead-"

"By someone who worries over you too much for their own good, if you ask me." The young man mumbled, his attitude turning more angry as he gave a snarl. "I don't like being bossed around by him- why can't you just be my master instead?"

"Stop it, you're acting like a child." She snapped at him, her curse making the comment all the more rude and blunt. "Also, what the heck are you wearing? I've been meaning to ask you."

They both looked down at his attire, and he gave another whining sound from between his lips, slightly taking offense from her comment. He wore a long-sleeved jean jacket, faded and old, and matching pants. His shoes were a bit scuffed as well, and on his head the hat he wore was the only thing that looked clean, proper, but out of place with the rest of the outfit- it being a black military cap.

"Well, the hat's a loan from the master." He explained, tapping it on his head. "Er- well, it was a loan, but then he said it might have fleas now, so he doesn't want it back anymore..." He snarled slightly at this comment, then continued. "The rest of the clothes, I picked out. I'm trying to fit in."

"You look like you stole them from a homeless man." She explained, to which he scoffed at her.

"And you look any better?"

At this comment, she looked down at herself. She only wore old clothes that were, of course, hand-me-downs acquired from Satomi. A pair of worn khakis, ripped slightly at the knees because the fabric was so old, and a dull blue t-shirt. She didn't look that bad, she had thought. But then again, she wasn't good with clothing... or make-up... or anything that had to do with appearance. She had always considered all of that to be her sister's department, not her own.

That said, she gave in to his look of disapproval. "Alright, so we both look horrible. Anyway, I guess what either of us are wearing isn't important."

"No, but I would like to see you in a dress sometime."

She blinked at her companion. "You what? What does that have to do with anything? If I'm wearing a dress, then you're gonna wear one too."

Mamoru winced at that comment. "Okay, I don't want that to happen."

"That's how I feel." She explained, then continued further with it. "It's not like I'd hate to wear a dress that much though, if I were to be honest... things like that are just too expensive though. I don't want to waste money on something so selfish anyway."

"It's not selfish if you make the people around you happier by wearing it." He pointed out, smiling cheekily.

Hizuru glared at him, pushing his shoulder a bit before sitting back at her bench. "Shut up."

She was already tired before, but now with him popping out of nowhere so unexpectedly when she was trying to relax, she was all the more ready to pass out now.

He seemed to notice her exhaustion, because he sat down next to her with a worried face. "What's wrong, Hizu-chan?"

"Call me Hizuru." She sighed.

"No."

"Fine." She moved slightly, reaching and holding his hand for comfort, as she used to always do. "I don't understand why you had to come be my stupid guard dog again."

Unlike others would have, he did not pull back because of the sourness in her tone. Instead, he stared at her with those puppy-like eyes of his. "I'm just here to watch out for you."

"Does that mean it's getting worse?"

"The curse, or-"

"Don't mention the rest of it!" She suddenly groaned, leaning her head back. "Just give me an answer... An honest one." She stressed her finishing words, making it a point to look at him with a serious gaze.

The lion-dog spirit sighed. "Yeah, it's getting worse. That's why I'm working so hard to help you get your curse lifted."

"Me and Kurama have barely even delved into that," She insisted sadly. "And he told me that the longer the curse has been placed on you, the longer it takes to have it lifted."

At this, the dog spirit whined like a kicked puppy. "But if you don't get the curse lifted soon, that means that-" With one look from her, he stopped himself. She was never in the mood to talk about all the complications of it, he knew it was never supposed to be brought up around her because of how upset she'd get. But still, he had to say something about it.

In the end, he settled his words, though still about the curse and it's 'other consequences', on a certain crow.

"Does he know?"

"No." Hizuru instantly knew who he was taking about. Leaning her head against Mamoru, she kept going. "Kurama has no idea that there's more to the curse than it just effecting my personality."

"Then he won't find out." The young man said, determinedly.

She just grinned, letting him pull her hands into his lap as his eyes shone with a yearning eagerness to support and assist the girl he claims as his 'master'.

"Good dog." She sighed heavily. Her mind was occupied by all of the trouble that could be stirring, trouble that all revolved around her, and the stupid curse. She wanted to distract herself from it as quickly as possible. "Hey, you wanna go get something to eat?"

With a happy bark, he replied. "Absolutely! Can we go get some Taiyaki?"

"You know they shape those like a fish, right?"

He gave her a glare. "Just because I'm a dog doesn't mean I can't like Taiyaki. It's not actual fish."

She actually laughed at him as they both stood up. "Maybe, deep down, you are secretly a cat."

Hizuru's laughter made him turn red. "I am not a cat!"

"Well, you are a lion-dog. A lion is a type of cat."

"I'm much more dog than lion!" He took of his hat then, showing his floppy dog ears that stuck out over his short, apricot-golden hair. "See?"

Hizuru grabbed his hat, settling it back onto his head. "Come on, let's go eat some Taiyaki, Mr. Kitty."

His throaty growls were repressed by his wanting to please the girl, and he took her hand and started to lead them out of the park and into the streets. But he still couldn't help but cut the respect he had for her for a single, short moment and quickly mutter, arguing, once more; "I am not a cat..."

As it turns out, Mamoru's approach to Hizuru had been very well-timed. For he wasn't the only one following her, and if he hadn't been with her, she may have become caught up in something very unfortunate...

"Dammit..." A voice growled from behind the bench the two had just been sitting at, hidden among the trees and in the shadows. "Looks like I'll have to result to different measures, if that dog is going to be with her like that from now on..."

Kurama got out of his car, briskly walking to the front steps of his house, not bothering to wave goodbye to the driver as the car started to pull away. In exhaustion, he collapsed on the fine couch in the living room as soon as he walked through the door and let it slam shut behind him.

"Ugghhh..." He let out a moan and turned his head to face the cushion closing his eyes.

He had just gotten back from a 1 hour meeting with the editor of a magazine, after which he had been yanked off to the private home of some rich man who wanted him to perform a private convert for his daughter because it was her birthday or something. That had been very last minute, and Kurama had barely had any time to warm up before he was set on stage and given a microphone, with screaming girls thrashing and yelling in front of him.

Of course, as soon as he was done with that, he suddenly was told by his manager that he had a two hour autograph signing to attend, which just involved sitting down and scribbling things and nodding to the people in line, and after doing that for 2 whole hours, he felt too stiff to even stand properly. Then of course immediately after that he had a party that he had to make an appearance at in some large, grand hotel, (which wasn't actually that bad- until a waiter tripped and spilled all the drinks down his front...), and after that, he had an interview with a talk show host about his live performance coming up in a week or so, which ended up dragging on longer than expected because of a few technical glitches and the fact that the show's host couldn't stop going off on random tangents that meant absolutely nothing to Kurama.

"I hate my manager..." Kurama grumbled unhappily, switching his position again so that he could stretch out further on the couch, letting a slender arm move to cover his face from the light hanging above the room. It would seem he needed to fire the man- because Kurama was never forewarned about anything. He was always just thrown surprises and tugged every which way.

Obviously, the result left him even too worn out to stand up and make his way to his much more comfortable bed in his bedroom.

"Then again, there is a bright side to all of this..." He continued aloud. "That idiotic dog hasn't been around me all day."

With thoughts of the lion-dog familiar, came thoughts of a certain girl. A girl that Kurama had a lot of questions for now, ever since finding out the day he took her to the photo shoot, that she was actually the master for that damned bastard of a dog!

When she said 'guard dog' I had assumed she was just referring to an overly-jealous ex boyfriend, or something. Not the actual thing!

He groaned once more, thinking back to when he'd been, yet again, cornered by the stupid man after separating with Hizuru that day. Kurama always felt there was something off about the guy, but now that'd he'd been told more, he knew everything.

Well, not everything. Damn, this girl was very confusing, and too mysterious for his liking. He would have noticed if she was a god, and he knew that she couldn't possibly be one. But then, how had she come to have a lion-dog familiar then? It was all too difficult for him to understand.

"Shut up..." He insisted to his brain, which was working too hard for his liking at the moment. He just wanted to REST, for one measly MINUTE, even.

Of course though, that obviously wasn't going to happen, because the moment he buried his head in a nearby throw pillow, his cell phone started to ring.

Groaning, he grabbed the phone and pulled it to his ear, moving the pillow away so he could talk. "WHAT."

"Hey Kurama... it's Nanami... um, is this a bad time?"

Suddenly, he was feeling a little bit better. "Yes, but I guess I can talk to you for a moment." Though he was still upset and exhausted, this unexpected call from the girl he may or may not like was beginning to lift his spirits.

The girl on the other end of the phone sighed. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me and Mizuki for ice cream?"

Her and the snake guy? Shouldn't be too bad. He pondered for a moment, pausing in the conversation to think.

"Is that all who's going to be there?" He suddenly questioned.

"No... we're meeting up with Kei and Ami. Ami's bringing her boyfriend, and Kei has this infatuation with Mizuki going on, ever since she met him the other day, so I'm sort of bringing him along as a promised date for her..."

Kurama was going to hang up when he heard about the other people being there, but then something caught his attention. "So... your friend would be with the snake, and your other friend has her boyfriend, right? Does that make me your date then?" He added that last part with a little smirk.

"N-no way! I'm just asking you to come as a friend." She insisted harshly.

"Hmf. Why don't you ask the fox?"

"Tomoe said he doesn't want to come." The brunette sounded as if she were offended, pouting on the other end of the line. It was only obvious that that admitted fact about the fox familiar upset her.

"So, what, I'm your second-best choice then?" Kurama sneered, actually very offended by this.

"NO! Jeez, I don't mean that! I was going to ask you to come along in the first place. It doesn't make any difference if Tomoe's coming or not. And I was going to make him behave if you wanted to come too. But he said if you're coming, he's not, so..."

"Did you get mad at him for my sake?" Kurama was surprised by her actions.

"Don't go getting a big head so easily! I was just standing up for you because I'd do it for anyone else too. But Tomoe was just being a jerk to begin with this morning, so I would have gotten mad at him eventually. I don't blame you or anything. Anyway, do you want to come, or not?"

Kurama paused for only a moment. "Do you want me to say no so that the fox will come instead?"

Dammit, why do I even care?! I should just take the chance while I have it!

"No. I want you to be honest and just tell me if you want to come or not."

"...I'll come." She couldn't see it, but he smiled slightly, a bit relieved that he wouldn't be left out after all. Maybe it could end up being fun for him, he could enjoy himself. And, he could be with Nanami like it was a date- the fact that he would be there and not Tomoe would give him the chance to make some moves on the land god without that fox always getting in the way.

"Okay. Meet us at the ice cream shop in a few minutes."

"I'll see you then."

A/N: Yes he likes Nanami. Obviously, the plan is to get the damn crow to grow out of that obsession and fall for a certain someone...

anaywho- disclaimer: Kamisama Hajimemashita belongs to Julietta Suzuki, someone who is not me

And Nanami belongs to Tomoe

Sorry, Kurama :} but anyway, you can have Hizuru instead

I belong to... you guys. I guess I'm kind of your author-slave, writing away little fics for your entertainment. =_=

Haha, review and I'll update quickly~~!

[again, sorrreeee for the late update on this chap! D: bleeehhhkkk]

CK :*

p.s- who else thinks Mamoru is adorable?! Albeit, a bit annoying, but adorable! I want a lion-dog for myself now.

funny thing- (not really) the name Mamoru means 'protector'. Fitting, right? I did that on purpose ^v^