Shiori smiled at her son as he walked in the house but missed his usual "Hello Mother, I am home." Confused, she left the kitchen and went to the front door to see a girl with orange hair being cradled in Shuichi's arms. "Shuichi, what happened to that girl? Who is she?" she asked, rushing to his side. "Mother, this is Kanade Yurimora. She is a new student at my school. Some boys thought it would be funny to beat her up behind the school from what I can see. I found her knocked out while on my way home." He said, coming up with a cover story easily. "The poor dear! Come put her down on the couch so I can get some bandages." Shiori said quickly running to the bathroom for the medical supplies. As he set her down, Kanade groaned and opened her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked. "4:35, why?" Shuichi answered. Kanade gasped and lunged forward to sit up. "Oh no!" she cried. Shuichi raised an eyebrow. "What-" "Here we are! I found some nice bandages and a few Band-Aids. O look your awake!" Shiori said with a kind smile. "Oh, Mrs. Minomino, I'm sorry to be of such trouble, I really should be going." Kanade said, standing up. "Kanade, please you are hurt quite badly." Shuichi said, putting a hand on her shoulder to steady her, but she shook her head. "no I must go at once." She said. She turned to Shiori and bowed. "Thank you for your hospitality Mrs. Minomino; and you as well Shuichi for helping me. I swear I will repay you both for your kindnesses. But now I must bid you both farewell. " Kanade said, reaching for her bag next to her on the floor. Shuichi picked it up for her. "I will escort you home." He said, curious on why it was so dire for her to be home. "If you insist." Kanade groaned. She said her farewells to Shiori and Shuichi led her outside and they began the journey to her house. "Would you care to tell me what has you in such a rush?" Shuichi asked, noting her choppy and fast walking. Kanade noticed and sighed. "My mother. " She said. Shuichi raised an eyebrow. "Your mother?" He asked, concerned by the fear in her voice. She looked up and studied his face a moment and looked down at the ground. "Yes. She uh, likes me home before 3:30" she said, rubbing goose bumps from her arms. "You know I can tell when you're lying." Shuichi said, his voice even. Kanade bit her lip and continued to rub her arm. "Sorry, I can't tell you." She said. Keeping her eyes trained on her feet. "Hm," Shuichi mumbled in thought. What was wrong with her mother? Then he thought about what she had told him earlier about the cruelness of her family.
Surely her mother was not as cruel as her father.
Then again it would explain the deep struggle and sadness in her eyes.
But why should he care? He had only just met her and knew nothing of her aside of what she told him and what he had seen with his own eyes. Then again that was enough to know she had a powerful spirit awareness and what were these visions she spoke of? Not to mention the Dragon's Ring that seemed to be permanently stuck on her hand. He glanced over to her, following her as she turned down a street parallel to the one he lived on. She was so alike to someone he knew a few centuries ago. Her hair and eyes were nearly identical. When she stopped before a house he had to stifle a laugh; her house was directly behind his. Kanade scanned around, looking around for something then sighed in relief. "She's not home, maybe she will get home and believe I was here all along." She said with a small laugh. She looked up at Shuichi and her smile grew bigger. "Would you like to come inside?" She asked, walking up to the door, sliding it open. "I suppose that I could visit for a while." Shuichi said as he followed her in, noting she had expected him to follow her, not even glancing behind her to check. She led him upstairs to her room. Again he almost chuckled at the irony; her window facing his. She seemed to notice his amusement. "I will assume that is your window and that's why you are so amused." She laughed lightly, Pulling a new pair of glasses from a box that was among a bunch more that needed to be unpacked. "Great, that's my last pair." She grumbled to herself, switching them with her broken pair, adjusting the glasses so that she could see clearly. Satisfied, She grinned and turned to Shuichi and held her hand out as if she were about to shake his hand. "Kanade, and your Kurama correct? Nice to officially meet and see you." She beamed. Kurama was a bit startled at first but laughed lightly and returned her handshake. "Nothing gets passed you does it?" he asked. "I don't know about that. I just pretend and people believe me. Simple." She said. Suddenly Kurama heard the door of a car slam and the front door slam open. Kanade gasped and the fear returned to her eyes, making Kurama angry and worried. "You're a demon right? Can you jump down through the window?" she asked in a hushed voice. He nodded. "Will you be alright?" he asked, swinging a leg out the window. "Yeah I'll be fine just get out of here." She ordered. He nodded once and leapt down, staying below her window to listen. He herd the door crash open and Kanade's footsteps retreat away. "Where the HELL were you bitch?!" Yelled a female voice. "I was reading in the library and lost track of time." Kanade's voice was quiet and frightened. Kurama was confused. How was it she could be strong and fearless against demons but a frightened wreak around a screaming human. "READING? What have I told you about wasting my time like that! If you keep this up I WILL kill her!" The voice threatened. "No! Please you can't!" Kanade pleaded. "Then you better get busy finding out where this Genkai is and figure out how to take off that ring and get it to me. Or you'll never see your stupid sister again. Got it bitch?!" The voice yelled. Suddenly there was a loud SMACK sound. "Yes of course mother." Kanade whispered shakily. The voice let out a satisfied laugh. "Good. Now get to work on fixing your room. I want it clean. Then make dinner, got it?" Kurama guessed Kanade nodded because he heard the heavy footsteps leave and slam the door behind them, leaving behind a sobbing Kanade. Kurama's brow furrowed in anger and realization. So that was what all this was about. Kanade had a sister still alive and she was trying to get rid of the Dragon Band to save her. The whole situation continued to remind him of the human he met so long ago and it hurt his heart. Quickly he jumped up and grabbed the ledge of her window and pulled himself up. "Kanade?" He whispered. He saw her in her knees, sobbing, blood falling from a cut on her cheek. "Kurama, you stayed didn't you? I guess nothing gets passed you does it?" She laughed lightly. Kurama knelt beside her and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Who is your sister?" He asked. "She is a half demon. My father found a Demoness that was beautiful and wise a while before he died and decided to have a child with her to anger my mother. When Tanacha was born mother was infuriated and killed the Demoness. Father protected Tanacha and soon she was the only true sibling I ever shared my life with. We became close. When my father was killed there was no stopping my mother from killing Tanacha, but I pleaded for her life. When my mother found out I had this band and knew of its power, she demanded it in exchange for Tanacha's life. But I cannot remove it. She's taken my sister far away from here and no matter how much I try I can never sense her." Kanade said. Kurama's hand clenched into a fist at his side. "How old is she?" He asked. Kanade wiped her eyes on her sleeve and laughed a little. "She is turning five next month." She whispered. Kurama's eyes widened.
The child was that young?
He suddenly felt like he had been thrown in the movie Chapter Black.
"I will take you to Genkai tomorrow. We won't even go to school so you can get back on time." He said. Kanade nodded, hugging herself, shuddering in fear. "I'm sorry to have gotten you involved Kurama." She whispered. He tightened his grip on her shoulders in reassurance. "Nonsense, I got myself involved." He said. Kanade nodded in agreement and laughed. "O yeah no blaming myself for this one, I told you to get lost." She said playfully punching him in the chest. He laughed. "Yes I know. I will see you tomorrow Kanade." He said, going back to the window. "No I'll probably see you later tonight trying to look in my window." She said. Kurama slapped the palm of his hand to his forehead. "You caught me." He said sarcastically. Kanade chuckled. "Bye Shuichi." She whispered, leaving the room. He nodded after her and leapt out the window. "Bye Kanade." He whispered.