Kurama's breathing had slowed and he took fewer pauses between his pockets of rage or indignation to catch his breath. He was also having fewer pockets of rage or indignation. Over all things had returned to a point of, somewhat, normalcy between the two. In fact, Kurama looked as normal as he ever had by Shizuru's standards, if you didn't count his eyes still being yellow that is. Despite his outward appearance, however, Shizuru could tell that he was still weak. He now sat in his spot on her faded green couch, holding, but not drinking, the best tea she had (A Christmas gift from him actually), swaddled in a wool blanket that Shizuru had practically been forced to tie him up with. Needless to say their conversation had yet to pick up momentum. Shizuru took another sip of tea before placing it on the worn coffee table and fixing Kurama with a hard stare.

"So you're saying that you've been transforming into Yoko Kurama against your will and you're also unable to change back for long periods of time?"

She was met with silence that she accepted as a sign that she was right. It was hard to tell though. He hadn't met her eyes once since they left the forest and she was losing patience with him. Demon fox or not, she didn't run around town frantically for half the day just so she could drag him out of the forest to sit on her couch.

"Damn it Kurama, answer me! Tell me what the heck is going on with you!"

Shizuru had pushed herself to her feet and was now standing directly in front of the silent red head. Her face now inches from his own, she became aware of how she must look to him. In her panic to find him that morning things like appearance went unremembered. She hadn't actually brushed her hair or attempted to wear matching shoes. She was just thankful she always brushed her teeth first thing in the morning. Especially since he was facing her now. Watching her unflinchingly with those green eyes. She realized it was almost as unusual for her to lose her cool as it was for him. She was typically one of the more level headed members of their group. Time slowed to a stand still. Neither breaking eye contact. Shizuru didn't know how many seconds had gone bye, but she was beginning to feel a little silly. Once her heart stopped pounding so furiously there seemed to be less and less of a reason for her to be locked into a staring contest with him. Actually, she couldn't think of one single reason why neither had moved. Yet, there they were. A hand smooth and pale came up to clutch her own. Its grip becoming frighteningly tight, though there was none of the earlier anger in Kurama's eyes. That reminded her, when had they become green again?

"You're human Shizuru. You, despite your tough exterior, are fragile. I could break you so easily. In my human form I am in control. However, in my demon form, while I am in control... I have certain, urges, that may prove to be detrimental to your and every other human's health."

A pause. He released her hand and turned away from her once more. A rueful expression shadowing his face. Shizuru didn't even bother to rub where he had gripped her. It was definitely going to bruise. Suddenly Shizuru felt her stomach lurch. Kurama hadn't mentioned anything that could possibly harm him. So why was he in such bad shape? The only possible answer something that made her feel sick.

"I can not surpress my Yoko Kurama form and each time I transform I stay him a little longer than the time before."

"Kurama. Have you been... hurting yourself somehow?"

Kurama chuckled darkly before lifting his gaze back to Shizuru, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his upturned lips. Something danced beneath the green and for a reason unknown to her, she suddenly felt herself wholly afraid of what he had to say.

"I have."

His eyes never left her face and Shizuru briefly wondered if it was Yoko Kurama that hid behind Kurama's eyes. That scared her more than anything.

"Did I miss the part where you went emo or something?Why on Earth would you do that to yourself?"

"Not exactly. My body can only hold that form for so long, even if it is longer than I would desire. I change back into my human form when I become too fatigued. I am simply speeding up the process, but this can't go on. As I'm sure you've seen."

She wanted to say something witty. Something wise that would somehow help him, but nothing sprang to mind. His nonchalance about beating himself to the point of unconsciousness on a regular basis was more than disturbing, but there wasn't anything she could do, was there? Her brain ran through everything she knew about Kurama. His voice, his demeanor, his personality, his thoughts... His 'thoughts'. Kurama's emotions had flooded her brain the last time she had thought about him. Slowly it dawned on her. The emotions she felt earlier were 'Yoko Kurama's ' emotions. She knew how he was feeling when he was Yoko Kurama.

"What if I could help you?"

Kurama eyes narrowed very seriously and a small frown replaced the earlier smile.

"Shizuru, I don't think you-"

"Just listen ok? When I was looking for you I didn't just feel your spiritual energy, I could also feel your thoughts. Or more like the emotions behind them- Whatever, the point is that I could feel what Yoko Kurama was feeling."

This situation began to excite her in a way that nothing else had for a long time. Once Yusuke had returned everything had settled down for Shizuru. Without the excuse of having to look out for her baby brother she wasn't needed anymore. Not by Kazuma, not by anyone. Not only that though. It was about more than helping Kurama. It was more than his early morning visits. This was something 'intimate'. Kurama must have been thinking along the same lines as his female companion because his face morphed into an unreadable expression. Shizuru was still standing in front of him and once again she noticed their closeness. Her face not so close to his as before, but still within range to feel the soft sigh he breathed brush lightly across her cheek. Why had she gone looking for him? He had everything worked out just fine (minus the beating himself to a pulp part) and she had to butt into his problems and create... Well whatever this was. Honestly it was all a headache. She had been perfectly content to ignore the way his green gaze made her feel warm, or the way her stomach tied itself into knots when a friend mentioned him, even the way her skin tingled whenever his hand brushed against her was casually overlooked. Why couldn't she ignore this? She couldn't let go of the way she was feeling and it was really freaking annoying. Geez why couldn't her stupid heart just leave her be? While Shizuru reprimanded herself; Kurama leaned back into the couch and closed his eyes. He was obviously deep in thought, staying like that a few seconds before reopening his eyes and looking up to the ceiling.

"Well, I suppose you're right. It would probably be a great help to know what I'm feeling during those times. Its ironic, that I can't determine my feelings myself, but lately... There seems to be some sort of disconnect between Shuichi and Yoko Kurama."

His face was still pointed towards the ceiling and despite his youth, the age the of his spirit was visible in his face. He sighed again before facing her.

"You know, if I can't control this, I'll have to return to the demon world."

The resigned look on his face and his tone of finality was enough to cause Shizuru to pull a slender cigarette from the crumpled box she kept in her pocket. The twirling motion came naturally to her fingers and the cigarette was rolled carefully, almost lovingly, between them.

Time had spun by it seemed, absorbed by his worries and her fears. Neither of which they were willing to speak of out loud. It was late. Much later than Shizuru had intended to keep him. It was never a good time to spend too much time around Kurama. His presence was so disarming that she nearly forgot to guard herself from him. While the murky light outside her window quietly crept away to be replaced by an increasingly inky night, a brief glance at the quiet man told Shizuru that he was still considerably weak. She wasn't sure how often he transformed, but the possibility of him becoming Yoko and forcing himself back to his human form in his current condition made her worry.

"Its getting late. You should sleep here tonight. You can have the couch."

The words were spoken as casually as she could manage while still letting him know that it was more of an order than anything. He was too weak and tired to fight her on this anyway. He neither moved nor spoke. His eyes were cast downward and she thought he resembled a petulant child after being reprimanded. The sparsely stocked linen closet in the hallway was only a few steps away, yet turning her back on him for the few seconds it would take for her to reach it and bring back a pillow and blanket could mean a repeat of how she found him earlier. Finding a motionless Kurama on the ground was not something she wanted to relive. Making sure her steps were measured and even, she turned and started towards the cabinet. Between each step she paused and listened for something, anything, that would alert her to his departure. When she returned she found him with his eyes closed and his torso slouched forwards, sleeping peacefully for once.

Placing him into a decently comfortable position on the couch allowed his hair to tickle her skin and she was unsure if the warmth on her face was from her cheeks or his breath. Once the two blankets covered him protectively and she had given one last backwards glance to him before turning off the single lamp, Shizuru was finally ready to sleep.

It was cold. Unnaturally so. But she wasn't shivering. There was something in the air that she couldn't quite place. It was like someone was watching her, but who? Shizuru's eyes opened onto the smoky darkness of her room. Squinting she sat up and leaned forward. Peering warily into the black. All was still, but out of the corner of her eyes she could swear she saw something glowing.

"Kurama?"

She was answered in silence, but she could feel him. It was like she could hear his heart beating. She decided to try again.

"You couldn't sleep?"

Again only silence. Shizuru wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to regain some warmth. What the heck was going on?

"Ok Kurama I don't know what you're doing, but its fairly creepy."

She outstretched her hand to the night stand for the lamps light switch.

"Don't."

A voice cool and low spoke out from the darkness. A blurred outline of what she could only assume was Kurama's figure leaned against her door frame. Though he was taller now. Yoko remained silent, but she could just make out his shadowed form move towards her. With each step he took she felt herself growing colder and colder until he stood directly in before her, their earlier roles reversed.

"Yoko, you-"

"You can feel my spirit can't you?"

For the third time that day Shizuru felt her hand held by Kurama. This time, however, the touch was soft. Her hand was raised over his chest. As she placed her open palm over his heart she was almost surprised to find his skin warm to the touch in contrast to the ice she was expecting.

She could feel the beat of his heart as she had always felt it, but beneath it there seemed to be something else. Something she had never felt before. Shizuru's eyes widened and alarm washed over her. Her hand curled into a ball and fisted into the thin material of his shirt, at the same time she leaned over and flicked on her bedside lamp.

"Kurama!-"

He was gone. Her hand, still balled into a fist, now empty like the room around her.