Ch. 9 – A little bit of Romance
Kagome wakes to the smell of flowers. She opens her eyes and sits up, looking around her room. She finds herself surrounded by rose petal and a rose of the reddest shade lying beside her pillow with a note attached. "What is all this?" She looks confused as she carefully picks up the rose and looks at the note. "Good thing I can see when I'm in my room, or I'm sure whoever did this would be disappointed." She curiously reads the note.
I'm sorry I scared you. Please forgive me.
Your fox
"Hmm…" She thinks as she smells the rose. "I will consider it Youko, but don't get your hopes up."
(In Kurama's room)
-Did I do a good job?- Youko asks anxiously.
-I think that was a very nice thing to do.-
-Do you think she'll forgive me now?-
-After your mistake, it's going to take more of an effort to fix things.-
-Are you serious?-
-Yes. But that was a good start.-
-What more is it going to take?-
-Patience.-
-Oh. Ok. I can do that.-
-Can you really?-
-I can try damn it!-
-Good. Now I'm going outside.-
-I'm going to sleep. It took a lot to get those rose petal placed just right. Not to mention not do anything out of turn, since I was in her room, alone, at night.-
-Youko…-
-I didn't do anything! I swear! Although, she looks really cute when she's asleep. But I held back and did nothing!-
-I know you didn't. I would've been aware of it if you did anything. I'm very proud of you for not doing anything you weren't there to do.-
-Thank you. And now I'm going to take a well-earned nap. Later.-
-Sleep well Youko.- Kurama opens his eyes and walks outside. He goes to the archery range and gets a bow and several arrows. "I might as well practice since that's why I'm here in the first place." He starts shooting.
(A few hours later)
Kagome walks over to her bookshelf. "Hey, where did my rose go?" She eyes the small vase filled with water sitting on the top shelf. She searches the room with no luck of finding it. Then she returns to the vase and checks for fingerprints. "Who do I know leaves behind no fingerprints and would want to take a flower that was given by a male that is disapproved of…" She leaves her room and walks down the hall. "Hiei?" She knocks gently on the door.
There is no answer.
"Hiei."
Nothing.
"Hiei! Open this door right now!"
There is still no response.
"Hiei give my flower back you jerk!" She breaks down the door. Hiei is sitting on his bed staring at the doorway, as if waiting for her to get through the door.
He holds up a hand, her rose held in it. "Looking for this?"
"Give it back!" She runs over but he disappears in a flash and appears behind her.
"No. You can't have this."
"And why the hell not! That's mine!"
"I do not approve of him."
"So I can't have a simple flower! I'll have you know I like that flower! Now give it!" She tries to take it from him and fails.
"There is more to this gift then it being just a simple flower, it's a rose."
"I like roses."
"I also noticed that your floor was covered in rose petals."
"So?"
"Why don't you think about the meaning of that. Let's see, what could a bed surrounded by rose petals symbolize?"
"You think too much into things."
"I just happen to know the fox very well and what kind of thoughts run through his head. You should be more careful, your innocence will get you into a lot of trouble."
"Maybe I like trouble. Now give me back my rose!" She tries to take it a second time, and fails.
"I don't think you're taking this matter seriously. The fox is not the kind of trouble you want to get yourself into. As a female, do one kind thing to him and he'll start to like you. Talk to him, and he'll start to get feelings. Get within 10 feet of him and he'll watch you and start falling for you."
"I think you just checked off everything that happened 500 years ago." She manages to swipe the rose out of his hand on her third attempt. "Thanks a lot." She goes back to her room and puts her rose back it its vase.
(In the living room)
"Hey Konton?"
"Yes Ronin?" She looks up at him, both sitting on the couch.
"Do you wanna go somewhere?" Ronin asks.
"Where?"
"I don't know. Out. You pick."
"We could go to the bar down the road." She suggests.
"Sounds good to me. I'll drive."
"Why do you get to drive? Maybe I want to drive."
"We're taking the motorcycle, not the truck."
"Are you saying that I can't drive a motorcycle?"
"No. I'm saying that you're not driving mine."
"But I wanna drive!"
"How about this, if you're not drunk when we decide to come back, then you can drive. Ok?"
"Deal. But just to warn you. I have a high tolerance."
"We'll see about that."
"Are you challenging me Ronin?"
"Maybe."
"You're on! Just don't be a sore loser."
"We haven't even gotten there yet!" They leave the living room and walk out the front door.
(Outside)
-Can we go see her? Please?-
-Let her come.-
-But Suichi!- Youko whines. –I have t know if she liked my rose! Please!?!-
-If she was unhappy about what you did she would've found us by now and smacked us, beat the crap out of us or killed us. Since she hasn't yet done any of those things and it's now the afternoon, I don't think she was unhappy. She will come see us, don't worry.-
-Are you sure?!?-
-Yes. You aren't used to doing such things, are you?-
-Doing what?-
-Waiting for someone to come to you.-
-Well… no.-
-But what about past lovers?-
-They weren't my lovers. I never loved them. They were power-mad. The only reason they ever came to me was because they wanted the title they could get by being my mate.-
-I thought it was because they loved your sadistic personality.-
-That too. That's how I got answers out of them. Who they really were, who sent them and why.-
-That's low.-
-I'm a thief. What do you expect from me?-
-Some decency.-
-I only learned that when I first saw Kagome.-
-She taught you that much in 5 minutes?-
-When I saw her true form I fell for her immediately. I thought her human form was great, but her demon form was simply beautiful. And when she protected her kit, it was amazing to watch. It may have been only minutes that I spent with her. But it felt as if those minutes lasted forever.-
-That's deep. You must really like her.-
-I love her so much Suichi. I would never want to be with anyone else for the rest of my life as long as I had her by my side.-
-You really do love her. It's nice to know that you are capable of romance without my help.-
-What?-
-You're talking of a romance.-
-I am not.- Youko denies.
-Are too.-
-Tell anyone and I'll kill you.-
-You can't kill me, we share the same body.-
-I can find a new host.-
-You wouldn't be able to survive out here in the human world without me.-
-I could if I asked Shishio to volunteer.-
-Like Shishio is stupid enough to let a love-struck legendary fox thief live in his head. He's a technopath. He's smarter then that.-
-That just means that I could get to more safely guarded treasures without un-necessary wounds. That would be quite useful.-
-I doubt Koenma would allow it.-
-I won't tell if you won't.-
-You're not going to even try to switch, that's too dangerous.-
-You're just chicken.-
-I'm concerned for your safety. You should try to care more often.-
-If it weren't for me you wouldn't be with the group of friends you hang out with now! If I -!-
"Kurama?" Kagome is standing in front of him, staring into his eyes.
-She's here!-
-Shh.- "What is it Kagome?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"The flower."
"Actually the rose was from Youko. He did up your floor too."
"I see." She looks at the ground.
"Is something wrong?"
He gets no answer.
"Kagome –"
She kisses him on the cheek, making him trail off. "Make sure that Youko gets that for me." She runs off.
-Did she just… um… -
-YES!!!!!-
-Youko… -
-I have won the first battle! Let's have Hiei try to put me down now!-
-Please don't let this blow up your ego.-
-TOO LATE! I am winning her back!-
-Please don't do something too drastic.-
-Hiei shall leave me alone in fear!-
-Youko, please calm down.-
-I will win this war! Muaaaaa!-
-You're being evil again.-
-I'm a thief remember? It's my job to be evil at times.-
-If anyone else ever heard this conversation we'd be put in an asylum.-
-That's why we communicate in our mind.
( The bar)
"So do I win yet?" Konton looks across the table at Ronin.
"Nway!"
"Alright then. Lets have another drink." The bartender brings over yet another pair of bottles. "Here you go Ronin." Konton takes them and hands one to him. "Since you won't let me drive yet, have another drink."
"Yfst."
"Fine by me." Konton downs hers. "Now it's your turn." She smirks.
Ronin ends up actually swallowing half of his container as the rest is spilt over the table, on the floor and on himself. "Dn."
"Congrats, you're now officially drunk."
"Mnt." Ronin falls out of his chair.
"Ya, you are. Lets go home." Konton gets up and helps Ronin pick himself up off the floor.
"Ildrv."
"No you won't. Hand over the keys."
"Mn."
"You either give them to me nicely or I'll take them by force."
"Mn!" Ronin hides under the table. "Mn kys!"
Konton sighs before tackling him. "Give me the damn keys! Stop being difficult!"
"Mn! Mn!" Ronin shoves her away.
"Well if you won't cooperate when you're conscious… you'd have no choice if you were unconscious. Do remember that you'll have a nice bruise when you wake up." She punches him. He's knocked unconscious within seconds. She carefully picks him up and carries him out the door over her shoulder. "Let's go back to Genki's now." She ties him to the back of the motorcycle with rope. " I can't believe you can't handle more then 5. I didn't even get to stay long enough to see #7 never mind my tolerance being 9. We should work more on your tolerance, that was pathetic." She starts the engine. "But at least I get to drive!"
