Chapter Three- Medallion Spread

Shizuru approached her brother's room the next morning to wake him for school. She found it odd that she was doing so as school had become important to him. No matter, she thought. A little lapse every now and then is okay…as long as it's infrequent.

"Kazuma, get up or you'll be late," she called as she knocked. She heard covers rustle followed by a low moan. "I don't feel well," came Kuwabara's voice and sounding devoid of any illness.

"Funny," Shizuru said sarcastically. "You sound well enough to me."

She heard an angry growl before Kuwabara snapped, "Hey, I don't feel like going to school today, okay?"

"No, it's not okay," Shizuru retorted as she grabbed the knob and started to turn it. "You're going to school," she said as she opened the door and froze at what she saw.

It was her brother but he had the appearance of a fox demon! His hair had lengthened to just past his shoulders and had streaks of white in it. A pair of fox ears sat on top of his head and were a lighter shade of orange and had white tips. A dual-colored tail laid atop a leg and matched his hair. He shifted and rolled over to look at Shizuru with sleepy eyes which were now an ice blue color.

"Uh, I think I'll call the school to say you're ill," she said at last.

Kuwabara sat up, the sleep leaving his eyes. "No, no, I'll get going," he said, hopping out of bed.

"Kazuma, you can't. Somehow you turned into a fox demon."

"What?" he gasped. He rushed over to a mirror and he gaped at his hair and ears before craning his neck to see the tail and held up his hands to see that he had claws. "Oh, man! How…?"

"Did anything unusual happen when you visited Yukina?"

"Well, Yukina had a flare-up of an urge to have a mate but not to have a family. I saw no harm in letting her claim me and I claimed her in return. Maybe…her bite is what caused my change."

"How is that possible?" Shizuru asked.

" I don't know!" Kuwabara snarled, turning to her. "But it would explain why the bite throbbed and why my blood felt like it was on fire!'

"All right, Kazuma. Just calm down."

Kuwabara exhaled and looked at Shizuru with chagrin. "Sorry, sis. I'm being aggressive just like Yukina and like a fox demon."

"I see. I also see that you have dual-colored hair, ears, and tail."

"Yeah." He glanced back at the mirror. "Yukina also has two colors and they reflect her two powers, fire and ice. I could have ice powers too. I mean, white could represent ice."

"And Yukina is part ice," Shizuru said.

"Sis, could you call her to come here? She told me that she mastered a fox's illusion power. I need her help."

"Of course and I'll also call Kurama and have him come by after school." Shizuru left, closing the door.

Kuwabara sat on the bed, stared at his claws, and then ran his hands over his hair. He was convinced that the bite changed him. He didn't blame his mate as she didn't know this would happen. I do need help. I would like to learn the illusion power so I can go to school. I bet Shizuru is calling the school to call me in absent while calling Yukina and Kurama.

Shizuru came back to say that she called the school and his friends, the latter saying they would both come over this afternoon. This news annoyed him but didn't express this until he was alone. He felt angry- as irrational as it was- that his mate and his friend weren't more concerned about him. He laid on his bed with his back to the door and growled angrily. I'm suffering and no one cares, he silently raged. He shut his eyes, folded his ears, and was oblivious to the wind that swirled around him like a living barrier.

"This is my fault," Yukina moaned as she and Kurama headed for Kuwabara's home. She had disguised herself to look like her old self and looked like she was going to cry. "If I hadn't given in to my urge, I wouldn't have bitten him."

"You would have given in eventually," Kurama pointed out. "I am inclined to think that this is a side effect of your dual nature and the medallion. Its power is still in you, after all and it spread to Kuwabara via your mating bite. This situation would have happened even if you had waited years before claiming him as the medallion's power will always dwell within you."

"Oh. I see. So…Kazuma could have the same powers I have?"

"Perhaps. Shizuru did not provide a description so we can only speculate." They arrived at the door and rang the bell.

Shizuru answered almost immediately, concern on her face. "Kazuma's stayed in his room all day. He hasn't even come out to eat."

"Oh," Yukina said, concern now on her face too. "Is he angry?"

"Hard to tell. He was earlier but it was brief and he apologized." Shizuru smiled at the guilty look on Yukina's face. "I don't blame you. This would have happened at some point. Why don't you two talk to him and I'll prepare some snacks to bring up?"

"That would be nice," Yukina said as the door closed. She dropped her illusion and took some amusement at Shizuru's momentary surprise. "Right. You haven't seen my fox form. What do you think?"

"It's different, but I like it."

"Thanks." She headed for her mate's room with Kurama behind her. She sniffed the air as she stood before the door. She could smell Kuwabara's scent as well as the scent of a fox. "Kazuma?" she asked as she opened the door and her mouth parted slightly.

He had his back to the door so she had a clear view of his fox demon form. His hair was a little longer and had white streaks in it, his ears were a lighter orange with white tips, and his tail matched his hair. She also saw wind swirling around him like a barrier. He's a wind fox. I thought he would have two powers like me, but I guess not.

"Finally got here, huh?" Kuwabara finally said, anger clearly heard in his voice. "I was forced to wait all day for you. I was suffering and no one cared!"

"Kazuma, no. We do care but I didn't know where you lived and Kurama had to go to school and he met me at the station and led me here."

"Then, you didn't care enough!" Kuwabara sat up and turned to them, his eyes sparking in fury and the wind swirled faster and Yukina could see small ice crystals sparkling in it due to the light in the room. He does have two powers. She wanted to move closer, but the wind kept her back.

"Kazuma, I'm sorry," she said desperately. "I should have come sooner. I should have asked Shizuru to meet me at the station." Her eyes shone with unshed tears before they slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the floor.

Her tears and face of misery caused Kuwabara's anger to fade and his powers and energy to dissipate. He went to her and took her in his arms. "Yukina," he said gently. "Please don't cry."

"It calmed you, though," she pointed out.

"Yeah. Did Shizuru tell you why I asked for you?"

"No, but I can guess. The illusion power."

"Among other lessons." He sniffed and looked to the door to see Shizuru with food and drink. "But first, let's eat."