The Childhood Friend of Kurama Part 17: Ayame's Surprising Discovery
I walked through Spirit World Headquarters trying to figure out why Koenma would want to speak with me. I don't recall doing anything wrong or illegal. Hopefully, what he has to tell me is good news. I knocked twice on his door and it automatically opened.
"You wanted to see me, Koenma?"
"Yes, Ayame. Please, have a seat."
I sat down slowly as I looked at him.
"Is it something bad? Did I do something I shouldn't have?"
He smiled and waved it off.
"Of course not. Something happened recently that involves you, which is why I called you in here. You are aware of what happened to your parents?"
"I think so. I was told my mother died after giving birth to me."
"That is correct. Then supposedly after that, your father disappeared."
I nodded and raised an eyebrow.
"How does a father I never knew concern me, Koenma?"
"Let me bring up a picture so you can see what he's been up to."
I gasped as a picture of a man with my color hair was gathered around a fire with what looked like bandits. What surprised me most was that he had fox ears just like Yoko and Keikoku.
"Koenma, you're saying my father is a fox demon?"
"That is correct."
"What does that make me, then?"
"Being as your mother was human, you are half-fox demon, half human."
I put a hand to my heart as it began to beat faster. After all, it's not every day you learn your father is a fox demon and bandit and that you're half-fox demon, half human.
"Am I going to be going through any...changes?"
"Nothing too painful,Ayame. Eventually, your demon blood will surface and you'll obtain certain characteristics that will help others identify you as a fox demon. Eventually, your hands will grow claws and you'll get a tail to match your hair color, and you'll also get the same color ears."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. You may go. I am sorry you had to learn about it like this."
"It's not your fault, Koenma. Thank you for being honest with me."
Yusuke's POV:
I looked up as Ayame walked in through the front door, a shocked look on her face.
"What's up, Ayame? You look pale."
"Let's just say I found out something that certainly clears things up for me."
"Do tell."
She sat beside me on the couch and sighed.
"Koenma managed to find my father. It turns out he's a fox demon bandit living in Demon World. He disappeared after my mother died giving birth to me."
"Damn, are you serious?"
I flinched as I saw the serious look on her face.
"I don't think Koenma would show all that info to me as a joke, Yusuke. All this time, my father has been in Demon World and I'm also a half-fox demon."
Tears fell down her face as she looked away from me.
"Why was I not told of this?! Why was I forced to be put through this?!"
"Ayame, I'm sure your dad had reasons for not being there. Maybe he was afraid that you'd accuse him of killing your mother."
"I've been living my whole life as a seemingly normal human. Up until today, that existence was a true one. Now, I discover everything was just a lie."
I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms.
"Does that include your childhood with Kurama?"
"I had a childhood with Shuichi Minamino, not Kurama. Oh my goodness, what's he going to think about this? He may think I knew all along and accuse me of keeping secrets."
"I doubt he'd do something like that,Ayame. If you tell him upfront about it and don't beat around the bush, I'm sure he'll understand."
"Who will understand?"
We both jumped as we heard Kurama coming in.
Kurama's POV:
After Yusuke calmly walked out of the room, Ayame lightly touched the spot next to her.
"I can tell something is the matter, Ayame. Did something happen during your talk with Koenma?"
"Yes, Kurama. What I'm going to tell you...well, it'll definitely surprise you."
After she told me the whole story, I found myself as shocked as she was when she found out. The people I saw her living with as a child weren't her real family, her father was a fox demon bandit, and she was half-fox demon. Tears fell down her face as she ended her story. I wiped away her tears and carefully cupped her face in my hands.
"What is it, Ayame?"
"I was afraid that if I told you, you'd accuse me of keeping it a secret, that I knew about this the entire time."
"Ayame, if you reacted the way you did when Koenma talked to you, you can't have known about it ahead of time. I'm glad you told me."
"You are?"
"Yes, I am. It shows that you have complete trust in me. I've worked really hard to gain your trust back and I'm pleased to see I did."
Her eyes cleared up as a smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you so much for listening to me, Kurama. You have no idea how much I need your support right now."
She hugged me tightly and I was more than happy to return it.
"I'm always going to be here for you, Ayame. I promise you."
"Thank you."
That's a wrap for part 17. Part 18 will begin in Kurama's POV as he wakes to see Ayame is not present in the mansion. Also in part 18, Ayame manages to find where her father is hiding out in Demon World and confronts him. Stay tuned to see what happens