Hey people. Yey!! I'm finally getting it all together. Tell me if you like Kurama but I think I'll write a chapter just about him. Y'know mostly about his personality and everything to make him more prominent. He is, after all, a very important character. Enjoy!! -

Chapter 18- Jun's Plan for Escape

Jun stared at her mother then looked away, rolling her eyes. She quietly began tapping her fingers on the tabletop. It didn't disturb anyone either until the sound of her nails on the sleek wood hammered everyone's ears. Jun stopped immediately and gave Kurama a rotten smile to make up for it. She didn't want Ran to pinch her or squeeze her hand again.

"Ran I never realized how pretty your daughter is," Lu Fan said and looked at Jun. She held a traditional Chinese fan over her face, hiding half of it. For the most part, Mrs. Fan looked pale and beautiful, in an old type of way, with a slender body.

"Yeah well…" Jun muttered. "Too bad I am because you're nothing like me" she began tapping her fingers again. Ran looked at her daughter angrily. She picked up a spoon and slammed it on Jun's fingers just when everyone was not noticing. Ouch! Jun quickly straightened up and smiled at Mrs. Fan "I mean thank you!" she said and began blowing on her red knuckles, cursing under her breath.

After dinner, Jun sat on the sofa in the drawing room. Her eyes trained on an empty chair. She didn't want to eye Kurama's stare. From the corner of her eye Jun could see Kurama's eyes fixed on her. She fidgeted a little when she saw him stand up. He walked over and sat down beside her. Her heart beat heavily. She was sure he could hear it! Everything was so silent; everyone had moved outside for a talk, leaving both of them in the enormous dining room. Kurama silently gave his head a little tip to move his bangs out of his eyes.

"It is nice to meet you here, Jun Tao. I wanted to ask you more. Would you please tell me more about yourself?" his voice was calm and low, not the heavy one she had expected to come out. Jun gulped and turned her head to look at him.

"Yes, sure. Um, I am a doshi and my guardian is Lee Pai-long. I like battling and uh," she was lost for words. "What about you? What is … your age?" That was an impertinent question but she wanted to know just how old he was. Kurama looked at her in the eye, his green eyes piercing into her indigo ones,

"I am twenty-three. I like battling too. My guardian ghost is Zhang Yi Fan, an ancient warrior of my own family. He is not here right now," he spoke. Jun kept getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute. I must get out of here! But how? Umm…………Aha!!

"May I excuse myself for a moment?" she quickly stood up.

"Yes. Of course Jun," Kurama smiled cutely. Jun took a step and "Yaaa!!" he foot got caught in her long dress and tripped her. Kurama quickly got up. His arms went under her back, pulling her back up.

"Are you all right, Jun?" he asked worriedly. Jun blushed.

"Yes," she whispered looking up at him, her arms around his neck. Kurama bent down and kissed her lightly. Jun felt herself going red again. She straightened up quickly, pulling back her hands, "Thank you Kurama."

"Glad you're okay," he smiled and sat down. Jun slowly walked out of the room and then made a dash towards her room. He slammed the door shut as soon as she got in.

"What happened to me there! I should have not let him do that!! I'm an idiot!" Jun slumped down on her bed and closed her eyes, "Careful Jun don't fall for him. You love Pai-long, remember," she told herself "You don't want to……………… miss this chance of meeting Pai-long! Do you!" she smiled at her idea and sat up. Yes! She knew what she had to do. Only that it was next to impossible. Jun opened the door. She walked stealthily down the stairs. She could hear Mrs. Fan saying something about marriage. She didn't want to miss this. Jun strained her ears and listened hard.

"Oh! Kurama and Jun make such a cute couple!" she heard, "I want them married as soon as possible. How about a week from now? We will be able to prepare if we hurry up. We already bought Kurama a mansion for Jun and him," Jun stopped eavesdropping at that point. Her face flushed red with anger and she stuck out her tongue.

"Who does that old lady think she is!" Jun said angrily, "Me and Kurama make the worst couple in this world!" she mumbled and walked in the hall as quietly as she could. As she reached the drawing room she knew she would have to make it quick to pass, if she wanted no one to notice. She peeped in the room. Kurama, Uncle En and Mr. Fan seemed to be engrossed in a long talk. Ran Tao and Mrs. Fan were busy talking too. No one would notice. Jun knew she couldn't make it so quick, especially in the shoes she was wearing. Even if they weren't high heeled they still made loud tapping sounds when someone she walked. Jun quickly took them off leaving them on the floor carelessly and made her way quietly but quickly to the dungeons. She crossed the drawing room in her white socks without anyone noticing. Jun's heart swelled with joy. Yes finally I'll be able to meet Pai-long! Oh! How long has it been since we last met! It was quite difficult for her to run though. The dress was really tight at the thighs and hips making it almost impossible to run. It even started to at the stomach but Jun didn't care. She didn't care about her hair flying wildly as she ran. She didn't care because she was going to meet Pai-long! Pai-long!! All of this didn't matter to her because she had decided to elope with him. She reached the dark, creepy stairs that led to the dungeons. But that wouldn't hold her back. She flew down the stairs and entered the dungeons. Everything was so dark.

"Pai-long?" she said in a small voice. Jun heard a sound from near by "Pai-long!" Jun walked up to a cell. She saw Pai-long's figure in the dark. He lay sprawled on the floor, "Pai-long! Is it really you!!!" tears ran down her cheeks but she couldn't meet him just yet. What about the bars that kept her apart from him? Jun grabbed two of the heavy metal bars and pulled hard, trying to break them. But of course she couldn't.

"Pai-long…" she said sadly and buried her face in her hands, "I won't give up!" Jun looked at him and picked up a rod that had been lying near her foot. She slammed it on the bars as hard as she could. Pai-long looked up and saw Jun.

"Jun!" he cried, "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting you out!" Jun replied and kept on slamming the rod on the long bars, "Pai-long! Help me here please!" she added.

"I can't! I've been chained!! I would do anything to help you but how can I?" he sighed, "Jun you should go right now before you get in trouble!"

"No! Besides the Fans are here to meet me! I can't go in front of them looking like this," Jun knew this was no use. She had to get the keys. She flung in her arms so she could at least touch Pai-long. He looked up sadly and took her hands in his.

"Jun. do this for me. Please go and live a happy life."

"No Pai-long. I could never be happy without you," she moaned and began crying. That's when they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Jun dropped his hands and sank back against the rods. Please don't notice me! Please! She looked up and saw her mother and En standing in front of her. And whom had they noticed? Her.

"I knew you would be here when I found your shoes!!" Ran glared at her daughter. Jun suddenly remembered what she had done, but it was too late now. She looked at Uncle En. He looked extremely angry, and the light of the lantern playing on his face made him look even scarier. So scary that Jun didn't dare utter a word.

"Just look at yourself! The guests want to meet you! And you! Just what do you think you are doing!" Ran walked up to her trembling daughter and pulled her up. Pai-long looked at her sadly but what could he do? Nothing. If he even tried to stop them, Jun's fate would be even more terrible. "Come with me now!" Ran ordered Jun, but En stopped her.

"She isn't going anywhere!" he said coldly.

"What do you mean?" Ran Tao asked. Jun whimpered and looked at her uncle through watery eyes.

"You'll understand!" En grabbed Jun's arm and opened a cell. He dragged her inside and chained her to the wall. "As for you Pai-long… you won't be here too long." Then he looked at Jun again, "We'll keep her here until she agrees to marry!! And if she never does, then so be it! Stay here forever then!" he thundered.

"You can keep me here for as long as you want but I won't let you hurt

Pai-long! I'll never! If you do anything to him you'll have to say goodbye to your niece! Forever!!" Jun screamed at him, her hair stuck to her face. En quietly walked out of the cell, locking it. He walked up the stairs with Ran Tao right behind him. Ran looked back at Jun and Pai-long's cells sadly and then walked ahead. As they left the light of the lantern got dimmer and fainter until only darkness lived. Jun looked down as hot tears ran down her cheeks.

"Jun!" she heard Pai-long say.

"It's over Pai-long. I'll be forced to marry Kurama and I don't know what they will do to you!" Jun shut her eyes tightly and after a few seconds passed out………

Well, kind of sad. Don't you think? I really like Pai-long. Please review. Thank you to everyone who reviews or reads. Love you!

Saori