IT'S STILL ALIVE. For now. :P
I just have to tease you guys... I am SO EXCITED FOR CHAPTER 14. It may be up today because I'm really bad at keeping things to myself..
But for now! Here is Lone Wolf chapter 13! "The Fox and The Wolf."
I'm not signing off yet because there will be another note at the bottom of this chapter :P
Chapter 13: The Fox and The Wolf.
Kirazuki stood outside on the deck of Genkai's temple, blatantly ignoring the massive commotion inside and enjoying the quiet night air. The Spirit Detective had decided after their training, her awakening was a call for drinks. Genkai had assigned them all rooms while she was out, although she was positive she wouldn't actually use hers; it was far too beautiful out here to waste anymore time inside, that and she had been caged up far too long prior.
"No celebration?" Kurama spoke suddenly from behind her, having learned a lesson from Keiko to make your presence known around Kira. He carried four small glasses with him, holding them carefully with his fingers.
Kira smiled only momentarily in greeting, before it fell into a deep frown again, "There is no cause for celebration," She replied, closing her honey eyes, "I'm useless to the cause right now," She fiddled irritably with her large leg brace, she could do nothing with this thing.
Kurama nodded solemnly, setting the glasses down gently and leaning against the railing of the deck to peer up at the sky, taking a small pleasure in the cool breeze. "You needn't worry, the damage that was done isn't permanent."
"Hopefully," Kira said simply with a sigh, "I don't want to be a burden, if it comes down to it I'd rather return to the Reikai. Taryuu would take care of you all,"
"We can begin retraining your muscle tomorrow if you wish," Kurama attempted to reassure Kira, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, noting she almost instantly tensed.
Kira let out a long sigh in relaxation, "I hope we can work miracles." She joked, toying with one of the glasses, "Is this what the Detective has referred to as drinks?" She asked sheepishly, pushing her worry to the back of her mind for now. Maybe Kurama was right.
He chuckled, "Yes, do they not allow you to have them in Reikai?"
Kira shook her head as she picked up the glass, "We don't get to have any fun up there," She tipped her head back as the liquid slid down her throat and instantly grimaced, "This is terrible!" She breathed hoarsely, the taste was in fact horrendous.
Kurama laughed now, taking a sip of his own drink, "It's believed to help one relax while under stress,"
"Or act like morons," She smirked, looking in one of the windows where Yusuke was wrestling with Kuwabara over one of Genkai's video games, Ryuu laughing manically, Kanami and Yukina giggling at their antics while Keiko yelled at the pair, "You're like us, right? Only a fox?" Kira asked, seemingly out of the blue.
Kurama nodded cautiously, unsure of how she knew.. well, any of that information, "I was once very powerful; but I was badly injured and needed to seek shelter within a human body to recover my strength." He admitted, taking another small swig of his drink.
Kira picked up her second glasses, tipping it up with another pained wince, "So you aren't too far off from us, then," She felt.. warm for a change, perhaps a little dizzy as well. Perhaps these drinks worked too well, "Besides, what? A 900 year age difference?"
Kurama smiled, "Somewhere in that range, yes."
Kira gave her ears a playful twitch, her stress had definitely dissipated, "I hope I can someday roam for just as long," She proclaimed with a smile, looking up at the sky in thought. Yes, 900 years of freedom after 104 of captivity sounded fantastic; although in all reality, she had no idea what her average lifespan would be, she was, after all, the first embryo to survive, she supposed that would make her the tester on lifespan.
Kurama smiled again, admiring her seemingly simplistic young dreams, something which he had taken for granted so many years ago. He knew now exactly how it felt to be caged, "I'm sure you'll get your chance," Kira tried, pathetically, to hop up and sit on the railing, squealing loudly as she began to tip back forward, had it not been for Kurama's quick reflexes latching onto her upper arms, she would've fallen straight on her face, "One of the more undesirable effects of alcohol. Perhaps the brace as well," He chuckled, pushing her the remainder of the way up onto the rail.
Kira smiled in return, "Thanks for the look out," She joked, tipping her head back to admire the moon, the pale light reflecting in her now one goldeN, one brown eye. Typical wolf.
"Hn, enjoying the foolish human festivities?" Hiei walked down the long porch towards the two.
"Oh, you aren't?" Kira feigned surprised.
Kurama couldn't help but chuckle at the pair's mutual banter, "Yes, no cause for celebration, Hiei?" He asked innocently. Hiei simply shot him a horrid glare.
Kira attempted to hop down less-than gracefully from her railing, instead Hiei having to catch her yet again with an irritated sigh, mutter about her foolishness. She picked up one of her empty glasses, holding it up in front of her, "I need more of this stuff," She grinned mischievously.
"It's okay, it's not your fault you're defective, I am too now," Kira grinned happily, rubbing Kanami's head, who blushed furiously, Ryuu couldn't cease his laughter.
Kurama sweat dropped, "I apologize, I didn't think she would get so… Forthright.." He addressed Kanami, who was growing increasingly embarrassed.
Kira looked quite offended, glaring towards the fox and crossing her arms over her chest, "I was being nice! We have common ground now!" She proclaimed.
Kurama laughed nervously, "Right.. Well, I do believe it is time for the rest of us to retire. It's nearly 1AM.."
Yusuke and Kuwabara were both passed out in various awkward positions together on the couch, while Yukina and Keiko had gone to bed several hours prior. Hiei was nowhere to be found; it had been down to Kurama, Kanami, Ryuu and Kira, who groaned, "I don't want to...I just woke up yesterday,"
Kurama chuckled, smiling kindly at Kanami and Ryuu, "I'll make sure she finds her way," He squatted down next to Kira, placing her arm over his shoulders and hoisting her upwards; he had to remain quite hunched over in order for Kira's feet to remain on the ground.
"You're such a nice person," Kira grinned, her ears giving a few excited twitches, "Is it because you're so old?"
Kurama sweat dropped again as he helped her down one of the long hallways, "Perhaps? And thank you, I think,"
"Am I going to bed?" She whined, practically going dead weight, her brace making a dragging sound along the floor, "I just woke up.." She protested with a pout.
Kurama laughed in response, "You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
"I see it," Kira grinned as her door came into view down another hall. She immediately kicked off her single sock she had insisted she needed to put on earlier, "Where did Hiei go?" She asked sadly, realizing it had been quite some time since she last saw the fire demon.
Kurama chuckled yet again, "More than likely shaking his head at your antics from afar," Almost as soon as he released her for only a moment to open the door, she had completely removed her shirt, "Kira!" Kurama scolded, quickly ushering her into her room; he couldn't help but notice a very intriguing scar that extended from the bottom of her left shoulder blade all the way to the top of her right shoulder. Had she not been so intoxicated he would have surely questioned it.
"Kurama!" Kira scolded back in a mocking manner; and it dawned on him that she probably had absolutely no concept of what any demon or human considered 'decent', so he let the topic be until another time, when she could actually comprehend...Anything.
Kurama shook his head, "Sit," He instructed with a chuckle, guiding her clumsily towards her bed, where Kira promptly flopped down on her back and yawned. Kurama sat on the floor and began undoing the many velcro straps of her brace.
"Thank you for not letting me die," Kira sat up again with surprising capability, "I've yet to have my chance at roaming free for 900 years," She grinned, her ears giving a lame twitch.
"You needn't thank me," He chuckled, undoing the straps at her thigh, "That is, after all, what we do for our friends,"
Kira leaned over, giving him a small peck on the forehead; this would ordinarily be a very sweet gestures, if it hadn't placed her breasts directly in his face; he really needed to have that conversation with her when she was sober, he was having great trouble concealing his embarrassment, "Thank you anyway," She smiled, flopping back down again.
Kurama gently removed brace, setting it down against the small nightstand next to the bed, "Get some rest," He offered with a smile, only receiving a faint 'Mmm' in response as Kira quickly spiraled into sleep. He crept silently out the door, closing it as gently as he could manage. Upon turning around, Hiei was leaning against the hallway wall, a large smirk plastered over his face. Kurama chuckled, shaking his head as he closed his eyes, "It may have been unwise to allow her to get inebriated,"
Hiei pushed himself from the wall, beginning to trail off down the hallway, "She'll realize it tomorrow,"
I know I know, all about Kurama. But Kurama plays a huge roll in an up and coming plot twist (gosh I love that word...) so I really needed to begin furthering their relationship.
Keep an eye out for chapter 14!
-B.J.