~ Pumped out a new chapter! A lot of fluff in this one. No heavy romance. I promise eventually WAY down the road I may write about that. Youko at the moment kind of thinks of her like a little kid the more he speaks with her. Himeno isn't very mature and she honestly is a bit airheaded LOL. Just keep reading to see what happens. ~
Himeno awoke again in the silver mist and a depression settled over her. She sat down on the ground. If this was the ground at all? Maybe she was still in a coma and this was a nightmare.
No. She'd pinched herself and it felt real enough. At least in sleep though sad she could find a little peace for awhile. Himeno wondered if her mother knew she was missing yet. She wondered if Kayako would be worried or just brush it aside. Tears slipped down her cheeks and she pulled her knees to her chest letting the sob escape. She knew she was supposed to keep her emotions in check but it hurt so much! She felt so alone!
Kurama felt the pulsing emotion jolt him awake. He sat up looking down at petite hands. He sighed in disappointment realizing Himeno had fallen asleep and slipped into an emotional haze. He felt her body stir saying it was hungry. He pushed back the covers of the futon and stood adjusting the yukata.
He glanced around the room seeing some clothing laid out. It was just a simple tank top and training pants. Without looking down and trying not to touch her body as much as possible he changed from the yukata and into the new clothing. No, he couldn't have possessed a male's body it had to be a female and a teenager no less!
Looking up he glanced in a standing mirror seeing the girl looking back him. His golden orbs looked odd with her curly hair. She was slight in build with a medium sized chest and short somewhat shapely athletic legs. Everything about this girl was average what was so special about her that drew his soul to her? Hopefully he would find that out. He visited the washroom before venturing out of his room.
Hiei felt Kurama's presence just as he woke. His ki was calm though and not troubled so he kept his perch in the oak tree watching. The girl's body with Kurama's spirit in control exited the room dressed in training clothing Yukina had left while the girl was sleeping.
"Is the girl dead?" He called
Kurama looked up at him golden gaze annoyed. "No. She's just sleeping her soul is weaker than mine so she slipped into her soul plane."
"Weakling." Hiei snorted
"Yes she might be weak in most instances but something about this girl caused my soul to become attracted to her."
"Any clue what fox?" Hiei asked
"None." Kurama said huffed "Other than my human body became weak...that is all I know."
"Well than you have your answer. You need to stop pretending to be human and take back your true heritage." Hiei said
"Easier said than done. I rather like my human exsistence Hiei." Kurama scolded
Hiei scowled jumping down and facing Kurama. It was odd to not have to look up at him but instead they were pretty much even in height. His scowl turned into a humorous smirk.
"What pray tell is so amusing to you?"
"How does it feel to be so...small?"
Kurama frowned deeply pinching the bridge of Himeno's nose. "You really are not helping Hiei."
He let out a sharp bark of laughter he had been holding in for awhile. "Kurama this is beyond amusing to see you in such a state. What would the Lords of Makai say, especially Yomi?"
Kurama bristled actually bearing teeth at Hiei. Though in Himeno's body he was not intimidating in the slightest which only caused Hiei to continue to grin maliciously. "Do you not see the severity of this situation! This girl could die...I could die."
Hiei snorted "Hn. You have been through worse trials than this fox."
"Yes but I always knew the answer Hiei. This is completely beside me." Kurama seethed
"I'm beginning to wonder if the helplessness you feel is not being in the female's body but from the lack of control you are so used to having over any given situation." Hiei mused
"Your power of establishing the obvious is abnormal Hiei." Kurama snapped and walked past him
"Where are you going?" Hiei asked curious
"To eat. I have to keep up this body's strength if we are to survive this." Kurama said shivering slightly.
Hiei's eyes drifted to the chest of the girl. The cold was affecting the body in ways that Kurama wasn't used too. A strong scent of female arousal hit his senses as the female's body reacted to Hiei's demon ki like many human females did. Hiei smirked as Kurama's eyes followed his gaze. He gasped cheeks coloring and wrapping his arms around the body.
"NOT. A. WORD." Kurama spat stomping off.
Hiei waited only a few steps before guffawing making Kurama wish more than anything he could summon his Rose Whip.
Himeno looked up feeling Youko's presence. She eagerly let her gaze settle on the fox demon. He didn't seem at all happy. He in fact seemed disturbed. His ears were lying flat against his head and his tail was bristled lashing back and forth.
"Are you okay?" she asked curious
"Fine." He growled
Himeno blinked "A-are you mad at me?"
His tawny eyes snapped to her and she flinched at the cold gaze. "You need to learn to control your emotions. I was able to control your body."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh no. Because I was sad..."
"No. You can very well feel emotion but there is a difference in feeling and letting it control you something human no less females lack the talent for regulating their emotions at all. Being hormonal does not help matters either."
"Hormonal?" Himeno asked curious
"Nevermind." Youko said brushing it off not wanting to relive that horrible memory.
"Well...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to slack off or let you out or whatever." Himeno pouted
Youko let out a huff of air before walking closer to her. Himeno watched in surprise as the elegant creature sat down directly in front of her indian style only an inch or two away. She stared at him in wonder eyes wide as he looked at her with a pondering stare.
"What?" she asked feeling scrutinized under his gaze
"What is it about you little mouse that is so special?" He asked curious
Himeno stared at him in surprise "Special? Me?"
"Yes." He said
"There is nothing special about me...I don't know what you're talking about." Himeno muttered hugging her knees tighter and tucking her chin to her chest.
Long sinewy fingers curled under her chin and guided her gaze up. Feeling utterly powerless she had no other choice but to look him dead in the eye.
"I will unravel your secrets little mouse. There are few puzzles and mysteries that stay hidden from me. Whether you know the answers or not I will find them." He said
Himeno swallowed and startled babbling incoherently "Maybe I'm not special but just weird. You know like a mutant or something...maybe its my DNA or my mother was exposed to radiation when I was a fetus and it did something to me. Or you know that spirit thing you were talking about...I could be a reincarnated monk. Maybe I'm Buddha."
Youko's hand dropped from her chin and his eyes widened in surprise. Himeno's face flushed realizing she had done what Kayako called Spewing-word-vomit all over him. The most attractive creature that was very much male she had ever seen had heard her make an absolute fool out of herself. To make it worse he outright started laughing. As amazing as his smile was it made her want to crawl into a hole and die.
"You are greatly amusing little mouse." He chuckled a strange content rumbling coming from his chest.
Okay so maybe the word vomit wasn't such a bad thing after all. Or did he thing she was weird now? Was he just laughing because she was being ridiculous? Why exactly did she care?
"I'm just ridiculous its okay you can say it. Everyone else does." She huffed embarassed
"Who says such things?" he asked curious feeling a little defensive
"My mom...my best friend Kayako. They say I have foot-in-mouth disease. I've gotten sent to the office at school a few times because I just let my mouth run away with me." Himeno explained.
"You speak your mind, although in a rather unique way, I find it...charming." He said smiling.
"Really?" Himeno asked in a small voice
"Yes." He said lips quirking she was rather adorable at the moment.
"Thank you Youko-san for making me feel better." Himeno said smiling
"What made you so upset?" He asked
Kurama didn't know why he was interacting with the girl so much. Maybe he was bored. Maybe he just wanted answers. Or there was something about her something that attracted his attention so to her. He had always had a deep appreciation and coveting habit of rare and valuable things. She was fragile though and felt his demon instincts wanting to protect her. It could be that it was because she was his vessel and it was a natural defense mechanism or something more.
He could feel her emotions strongly and he didn't think she knew. He could feel that she was attracted to him as were most females. However this feeling was refreshing it wasn't out right lust it was a sort of timid adulation. Most women wanted him for one specific purpose only which he was usually more than willing to grant to them, after all he was beautiful and male. With Himeno however it was soft and sweet.
"I started thinking about my mother and Kayako my best friend. Wondering what was going to happen. I got sad." She admitted and the atmosphere turned chilly again.
She shuddered hugging herself tight again. Youko could feel her slipping away again. Instantly he reached forwards and enveloped the girl in his lean arms. He pulled her into his lap and set her down. Himeno held onto him tightly feeling his strength and warmth. She wanted to submit to this feeling and let herself fade away.
"Himeno."
"I'm tired..." she said her voice fading and falling limp.
"Himeno!" he snapped
She gasped eyes snapping open and blinking a few times. Her gaze adjusted and she looked up at Youko realizing he was holding her in his arms.
"What...what happened?" she choked
"You were slipping away again."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean too." She said desperately
"I know. I know. Calm down little mouse." he shushed her
Himeno looked up at him as he held her until he felt her energies balance out. Curiously she reached up and touched the long silver strands.
"Having fun?" he mused
She pulled her hand away with a jerk "S-sorry! Its just so soft...what kind of shampoo do you use?"
Youko chuckled and she laughed with him lying her cheek against his chest feeling calm and at peace. She should be scared, sad, angry anything but calm but she couldn't help it.
Youko released his hold on her a bit and she sat on knee looking up at him. "How old are you?"
"Hmmm...twelve hundred I think." he said
"WOW. That's a long time." She commented
"Not really. At least not in demon years time goes by much faster in Makai than it does in Ningenkai. Most demons live long lives." He explained
"Are you a demon or a spirit?" She asked
"Well In this form I am classified as a demon because I draw out demonic energies in my animal form I am a spirit because I exist between the plains of Reiki and Makai. Its difficult to explain its a very long story." He explained
"Oh I think I know! I remember in history we read a story about Kitsunes. They were the familiars of Inari the Rice and god of Autumn. They were also the messengers of the gods! Than one day one coveted a human and shapeshifted but only being a spirit the transformation wasn't a full one. As a curse the Kitsune was cast out of Reiki and into the world of demons. Was that you?"
Youko chuckled "No little mouse. That is just a legend but not entirely untrue. My kind has existed for millennia and at one time we were more spirit than demon. However we did covet things like flesh, treasure, and freedom so we took these forms in order to obtain what we wanted and shirked our duties."
"Oh. Why?"
"Because freedom is much more enticing than being a mindless servant stuck in the body of an animal." He sniffed
"Were you a slave?"
"Not I but my ancestors practically were."
"That's not right." Himeno said her eyebrows knitting tightly together frowning
Youko grinned realizing she couldn't look threatening if her life depended on it. "No its not but it is ancient news. Nothing to worry about now. You know about me now tell me something about you."
"Um well. I like ice cream. I'm on the gymnastics team. My grades are okay but they could be better."
"Anything else?" He asked smiling
Himeno sighed "No. I'm boring. Really just a plain old human nothing special about me I promise."
"We shall see. Now you need to go back little mouse." He said a finger poking her forehead.
"Awe...okay. Can we talk again though soon?" She asked hopeful
"Yes. Soon. Now come." She held tightly onto him as he stood with her holding her in his arms before setting her down.
He walked towards where she had left him before. Himeno reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Youko...can we be friends?" she asked timidly "I mean since you're in my body?"
"Yes Himeno. We can be friends." He said softly she squeezed his hand grinning
"Good! I've never had a demon for a friend before. Are there rules?" She asked curious
"Himeno...you need to go back." He said with a weary sigh
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry." she giggled letting his hand go.
She waved at him before disappearing but this time she wa just headed back to her own consciousness. Youko's expression saddened as felt her soul weakening little by little. Time was something she may not have much of.
