The four of them went to a fast-food restaurant for lunch, and nobody gave them weird looks. Part of it was that they were strangers, of course, but they were finally starting to accept that to the regular humans of the world, they had always been girls.

"You know, Kuwabara and his sister probably aren't the only spiritually aware people around here," Yusuke commented in between bites of a cheeseburger. "I'll bet they're everywhere. What if there are some at my school and they figure out something is wrong?"

"We can only hope that their spiritual powers aren't strong enough to recognize the change," Kurama told him. "Not everyone is attuned to these things on the same level. And like Shizuru said, if people do recognize the change, you can just claim you're new students. At any rate, anyone who remembers us as male before will likely think they're the ones losing their minds."

"I can't think of anything more correct," Hiei agreed, taking a sip of his second chocolate milkshake. "Humans are ridiculous that way. They'll try to explain away any supernatural activity, even when it's right in front of their noses. Sometimes there is no 'logical explanation.'"

"To be fair, most of us have it drilled into our heads from day one that this stuff is nonsense," Yusuke pointed out. "Everyone's a skeptic until it happens to them."

When lunch was over, Kurama realized his mother had probably attempted to check on him several times, but the forgetfulness pollen would remind her that she had something urgent to do, effectively keeping her out of his room. But he wanted to be able to speak to her again, and he knew she would want to see how he was doing. Besides, he needed to show her that he was getting better, so she'd let him go to school tomorrow.

Yusuke headed back to Kuwabara's house, and Hiei left for the forest, reassuring Kurama that he'd be back in time for dinner. Kurama climbed through his bedroom window, got into his pajamas, and settled into bed. Sure enough, his mom knocked on his door about ten minutes later.

"Sakura?" she called. "May I come in?"

"Of course," he said, still trying to get used to his new name, at least for now.

When Shiori entered the room, she was holding a tray with some orange juice and a bowl of chicken soup. She smiled and set it on his bedside table. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"Much better," Kurama told her, sitting up in bed. "In fact, I think I may be able to go to school tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Shiori looked doubtful. "Let me take your temperature first."

Kurama had little choice, so he just waited as his mom stuck the thermometer in his mouth. Once she was able to take it out, it was normal, and his heart warmed at her smile of relief. He really was lucky to have a human mother who loved him so much.

"All right, Sakura," she said, giving him a kiss. "If you promise to get your rest for the remainder of the day and finish your lunch, and you feel fine tomorrow, you can go to school."

"Thank you so much, Mother," Kurama said. "School is important to me, especially since it's already the beginning of second year."

"I'm glad my daughter is committed to school," she told him. "And you're feeling better in the nick of time. Friday is Kazuya's birthday, and we're all going out to dinner as a family."

"I know," said Kurama, and that was when he remembered he hadn't yet gotten a birthday gift for his mother's fiancé. "Do you think I could go to the mall after school tomorrow and pick up his gift? I'm sure my friend Kuwabara's sister can give us a ride. She's in her twenties."

"Absolutely." Shiori gestured to the chicken soup and orange juice. "Now, eat your lunch. You need nutrition if you're going to get better!"

Kurama smiled, for that was what he told her when she was still sick, and one of his best memories was when he found out she was going to make a full recovery. He watched her leave the room, and even though he was still full from lunch, he ate the chicken soup and drank his orange juice. He then read a book as the hours passed, the sky growing dark, until finally there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," said Kurama.

"Are you feeling up for dinner tonight, honey?" Shiori asked, poking her head into the bedroom. "Hiei's here."

…

Hiei lay relaxing in a tree, his arms crossed behind his head, as he wondered what he should do for dinner. He often ate at Kurama's house, because Shiori was an incredible cook, and he believed that if there was anything Ningenkai did better than Makai, it was food. His mouth especially watered for chocolate, which was helpful for him with his condition, as was the tea. He was hardly cramping at all anymore.

Speaking of his condition, it sure seemed important to Shiori. Out of his friends and Shizuru, nobody had really seemed to care after they got over the initial shock that someone who used to be male was suddenly having a period. But it seemed very important to Shiori.

Hiei turned to the side, surveying the forest beyond him. It had been completely embarrassing when she hugged him this morning after she found out he had his period. The last thing he wanted was for it to be some big event. But now, reflecting on it alone, he realized she had been showing him her own brand of caring and kindness.

Maybe that was how mothers were supposed to react to such things. Shiori wasn't his mother, but she acted like it a lot of the time. Hiei wondered if his mother, Hina, knew; if she was happy, somewhere in Reikai, that there was another woman who was willing to take her place—to watch over her son, to dedicate herself to making sure he would be okay. It would be nice to have someone who could do that for him, even if he had to wait until he was an adult for it to happen. After all, Hiei certainly wouldn't be the first demon Shiori took under her wing.

With a pang, Hiei recalled the night Shiori had to go to the hospital. He'd been there, with Kurama, when they found her collapsed on the floor of the kitchen, and he remembered sitting next to his friend in the waiting room, disturbed at how distressed he was, but unable to do anything. What was he supposed to say? That, being motherless himself, he knew Kurama would be just fine? Well, he wouldn't be just fine. Hiei knew that for a fact. It was a pain that never went away.

Perhaps it was time to stop dwelling on the people who were gone from this Earth. Perhaps it was time to stop pushing away the people who were here and actually seemed to care for him. If, sometime in the future, they were to violate his trust, that wouldn't be the first time he was shunned by someone who was supposed to be his family. So he might as well enjoy this while it lasted. If nothing else, he was extremely hungry, and good food was pretty much a given when it came to Shiori Minamino.

The sun was setting, and since it was early April, Hiei figured it must be getting closer to dinnertime. He dropped easily to the ground and headed for Kurama's house, like a lion approaching a delicious antelope. When he arrived, he knocked on the front door instead of going through the window like he normally would.

"Good evening, Hiei!" Shiori looked elated when she opened the door. "Would you like to stay for dinner? I can fix you anything you'd—Hiei? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," said Hiei, because it was true, but she must have seen the look on his face, because she had him gathered up in her arms in nothing flat.

"There are plenty of women who understand how you feel right now, including me," she whispered into his hair. "Trust me."

Hiei didn't want to trust her, but he did. The warmth from her embrace overwhelmed him; it felt as if she was trying to take all the weight off his shoulders to carry it herself. It was…it was comforting. For once, Hiei didn't stiffen, and unlike this morning, he hugged back.

"I don't care what you fix for dinner," Hiei said finally, "as long as I get something chocolate."

"Consider it done." Shiori smiled and separated from him. "I'll go tell Sakura."

Soon enough, Kurama came downstairs with his mom. He was wearing a pair of pretty pink pajamas with his bathrobe on top, and he looked happy to see Hiei, too. Luckily, dinner was ready soon, and Hiei had something to take his mind off of all the confusing feelings he was having.

"It's so nice to have you over, Hiei," Shiori told them as they began to eat their meal. "I always love meeting Sakura's friends, and we've all known each other for a long time now, haven't we? Ever since you two were in junior high."

"Each year is better than the last," Kurama said serenely. "I only wish Hiei and I attended the same school."

Yeah, well, not me, Hiei thought, since he didn't want to go to human school at all, but he nodded in agreement, his mouth full of food.

After a big meal of rice cakes, sushi, miso soup, and yakitori meat on sticks, Shiori made good on her promise of serving something chocolate. Hiei had two helpings of Nama chocolates, and it was the most glorious treat to ever meet his tastebuds. Apparently, his female counterpart had a monstrous appetite. Who knew?

"I'll eat the rest of these in the morning, Mrs. Minamino," Hiei declared, pointing to the few chocolates he'd left on his plate.

"One would think you haven't had a proper meal in weeks," Kurama joked.

Hiei decided to sleep over that night, so Kurama made a little hammock of vines, the way he always did when Hiei slept over. It was extremely comfortable, and it reminded Hiei of sleeping outside in the forest. If there was anything that helped him go to sleep at night, it was being surrounded by nature.

"Remember, girls, lights out at ten-thirty," Shiori reminded them, and she shut the bedroom door. It was still weird to be referred to as a girl, but Hiei and Kurama acted like everything was normal as they told her goodnight. Come eleven, Hiei was drifting off into sleep, when he heard Kurama whisper his name into the darkness.

"Hiei?"

"What is it?" Hiei mumbled.

"Have you ever had the feeling where your head tells you one thing, and your heart tells you another?" Kurama asked. "And you walk away, not really knowing if what you did was right?"

"Is this a trick question?"

"No." Kurama's heavy sigh sounded more feminine than usual, but it was still there. "Do you remember a girl named Maya?"

"Wasn't she the one Yatsude kidnapped?" said Hiei. "And we thought he ate her?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"That was ages ago," Hiei pointed out. "Why are you thinking of her now?"

"It's because of what Yusuke said today at lunch," Kurama told him. "Remember how he thought there were lots of spiritually aware humans all around us? Well, Maya was one of them. I erased her memory to protect her, but now I'm wondering if I did the right thing."

"You didn't," said Hiei bluntly. "I never told you what I thought because it was none of my business. But I always thought erasing her memory was a dumb idea."

"Well, I suppose I can always count on you to be honest, at least," said Kurama dryly. "But I think you're right. I gave up something that could have been beautiful. But then I wonder if that's selfish, because by making her forget her feelings for me, I might have saved her life."

"Look at Keiko," said Hiei. "She might be a bit closer to danger because she's involved with the Spirit Detective. I've taken advantage of that fact myself. But she and Yusuke believe the reward is greater than the risk, and they're right. You'll never have what they've got if you keep pushing people away."

"Yes," said Kurama softly. "I know."

Kurama didn't say anything else, and Hiei finally realized he'd fallen asleep. But sleep didn't come so easily for him. He couldn't believe what he'd just said to Kurama. You'll never have what they've got if you keep pushing people away. But wasn't that what he did? Wasn't that why he always tried to keep his distance from Yukina—because telling her the truth would ruin what little the two of them had? He knew his advice to Kurama was correct, especially the part about the reward being worth the risk. But applied to his situation, it didn't seem quite the same, somehow. He couldn't figure it out, so he spent the night staring at the ceiling, alone with his very confused thoughts, until sleep finally came to take him away.

…

Hiei's hammock of vines was already empty by the time Kurama awoke on Thursday morning. That was only to be expected, Kurama thought, as he got out of bed and headed for the shower. It was in Hiei's nature to never stay in one place for very long.

It was certainly weird to do anything naked now, even shower. Kurama said he preferred being a teenage girl over a baby boy, but he didn't enjoy either. The worst part, he thought, as he walked back into his room wearing nothing but his bathrobe, was putting on female undergarments. It just didn't seem right—like he was crossdressing or something. But that was the way it would be until this got fixed. Hopefully, it wouldn't be long before he went back to being his true self again.

At least he didn't have to look at himself naked once the undergarments were on. But putting on his uniform wasn't a lot of fun, either. What was with this uniform skirt? It was much shorter than the ones at Yusuke's middle school. Surely, a man could stick his hand up there if he wanted. Not only that, but there were no pockets. Who designed these things, anyway?

After he finished styling his hair, Kurama packed his messenger bag and headed downstairs. When his mother kissed him goodbye, she asked him if he would go to the junior high after school and walk home with his future stepbrother, Kokoda.

"Why?" Kurama asked. "I mean, I don't mind, but he usually walks himself, doesn't he?"

"Yes, but it was at his own request," Shiori explained. "It may be that he was afraid of crimes happening on the way home, but I think he just wants to spend more time with you. Will you do it?"

"Of course." Kurama liked Kokoda and didn't mind spending time with him at all. It was kind of nice to have someone younger looking up to him. Whenever Kurama was around Kokoda, he was always on his best behavior. It was important to set a good example for him.

After a delicious breakfast, Kurama left his mother at home and started out. As he walked along, he was annoyed (and a little taken aback) by the catcalls and between-the-teeth whistling that followed him. For the first time, he thought abut how different it must look—a pretty, shapely redhead in a schoolgirl's uniform, walking without a chaperone. It wasn't as if no man had ever hit on him when he was male himself, but this was almost incessant. He just gritted his teeth and focused on making it to school, trying to ignore them. It wasn't long before Meiou Private Academy was in sight.

Kurama had never been late to class before, and he didn't plan to start today. But with shorter arms and legs, big breasts, a short skirt, and a higher percentage of body fat, it wasn't as easy to maneuver as it had been before. However, he was still in good shape, and he was confident that he could get to wherever he was going on time. He was looking forward to his Biology class today, even though they were having a test, because it was one of his favorite subjects. He shifted his messenger bag from one shoulder to the other; it was extremely heavy, as usual. And then he felt something horribly familiar.

Hands around his neck.

"Karasu!" The word came out as a high-pitched shriek. Kurama's impressive reflexes kicked in, and he knocked the person away as awful memories came swimming to the front of his mind. He heard a male voice groaning in pain, someone grabbed his arm, and he opened his eyes.

The girl holding onto his arm looked into his eyes, confusion on her face. "Who's Karasu?"

As his mind started to settle again, Kurama realized that of course Karasu wasn't here. Instead, he saw Tadayo—the school's most notorious rulebreaker—collapsed onto the ground, unmoving. He had been flung violently into the heavy brick wall of the school only feet away.

"Sakura, are you okay?" asked the girl. Kurama recognized her as Aratani Fujisaki, a fellow Biology enthusiast.

"I'm fine," Kurama muttered, trying not to look at Tadayo. Was that really his doing?

"Shall I take you to the school nurse?" Aratani's brown eyes were wide with fear. "You're shaking."

"I'm really okay," he told her, trying to smile. "Thanks, though."

Tearing his eyes away from both of them, Kurama noticed that a lot of other students were staring. He realized they had never actually seen him do anything physical before. Unlike Yusuke and Kuwabara, he saved that sort of thing for the bad guys. He was a completely different person at school and around his mom. But today, everything had changed. Not only had he overpowered Tadayo, but he'd knocked him unconscious as well—something nobody in their school, or in any rival school, had ever been able to do.

"Stay with me, Sakura," Aratani warned, still holding onto his arm. "I'm not so sure you should have done that."

"But I don't—"

"We girls have to stick together," she said, which didn't really clear anything up. That was when Kurama heard male voices behind them.

"What happened to Tadayo?"

"Is he hurt?"

"I think he's dead."

"Whoever did this, we'll get him!"

It was Tadayo's gang, the five violent boys who followed him wherever he went and did whatever he said. All of them were at least seventeen years old, but a few of them had been held back. Kurama looked at Tadayo, who was showing signs of movement.

"Who did this, boss?" said the biggest guy, cracking his knuckles. "We'll kill him!"

Tadayo pointed a shaking finger directly at Kurama.

"It couldn't have been Sakura Minamino," one of them said with a laugh. "She's a good girl."

Tadayo kept his finger on Kurama, though, and all of a sudden he could feel the whole gang quickly closing in on him.

"So it was you, huh, princess?" the largest boy asked, his eyes landing on Kurama's boobs and finally wandering up to meet his eyes. Kurama glared right back. "I never knew you could be so…feisty."

"Yeah, I guess she is," said one of the others. "I have to admit, it's kind of turning me on."

Aratani was trembling with a death grip on Kurama's arm. He knew perfectly well that she stood no chance against this gang. She was a smart girl, but when it came to athletic things, she was pretty much useless. During the girls' gym class, Kurama had heard, she didn't do much more than get knocked down and hit in the face.

"Why don't you skip class today, girls?" One of the guys grabbed Kurama's arm, and the other grabbed Aratani's. She looked like her knees were about to give out.

"My friend and I have no intention of skipping class," Kurama said firmly, easily yanking his arm out of the boy's grasp.

"Come on, smart girls like you two are boring," said the one holding onto Aratani. "Why don't you follow us behind the bleachers and show us what you can really do?"

"I've been imagining what's underneath those buttons for a long time now," said another, leering at Kurama's boobs. "Looks like today's my lucky day."

"Unhand her," Kurama warned, his voice deadly calm. "Now."

"All right, we asked you nicely," said the largest guy, who was the size of a refrigerator. "I guess we'll have to do this the ha—OWWW!"

One of the gang members had made the mistake of trying to pin Kurama's arms behind his back. In under a minute, all five of them were lying on the ground, groaning in pain and barely conscious, just like their leader.

"You were right that today was your lucky day," Kurama said coldly, staring down at them. "Next time I won't be so merciful. If you ever bother a girl again, I promise I'll show you what I can really do."

Aratani seemed like she was about to faint, so Kurama gently nudged her to keep walking.

"Be on your way," he told the students sharply, and they all scattered. He hitched his bag up over his shoulder again and was about to escort Aratani inside when he heard another voice, this time an adult's.

"Miss Minamino!" It was none other than the school principal, looking quite as shocked as anyone else. "Were you fighting?!"