Part II

Just a basic warning…I think I did much better with part one. This chapter will be things you already know about Kurama, and there is mention of Yaoi (male/male romance). Also this, as well as part 3, will have some odd and random things. They don't really mean much to the story but I wanted to add them because I liked the idea ^^ I hope you do too.
-Yoko-cw

Kurama POV
"Alright then," Shiori sighed, easing herself onto the couch and folding her hands delicately on her lap, "This should feel a little more relaxed." I stood behind the couch over the empty space, feeling the confidence draining out of me, leaving me cold. For the first time in over a decade, I felt nauseated. "Kurama? Sit down, dear." Hm…she still used a term of endearment. That was a good sign. I looked at her gentle face, the reassuring smile and the way she patted the spot next to her like she was coaxing a child. Slowly, I obeyed, pulling one leg beneath me and resting my elbow casually on the back of the couch.

"Kurama, what's so funny?"

Oh…had I been laughing? I realized my sharp canines were exposed in a grin; it made me nervous that it would make her nervous.

"It's just, I've never been in this house in my body," I said quietly, looking around the room, curious to see it through my own eyes. "Things feel…smaller." Smaller indeed; the couch I sat on was comfortable but the back of it rested lower on my side, my leg stretching out further than Shiori's. "I feel ridiculous." A laugh came out as a brief exhalation and, after a moment of silence, she laughed as well. "Yes, I suppose the added foot would be a little disorienting." (1) I shrugged one shoulder upward and decided to let her lead the conversation for the moment.

Shiori POV
"Kurama, can you tell me exactly how…you…well…" I rubbed my forehead with my fingertips, trying to relax. I couldn't think of how to make it sound appropriate. "How is my child a demon?" I finally whispered, and saw him shift his vision slightly, as though he had been expecting the question but hoped I would not ask it.

"Suichi has been…my reincarnation, of sorts," he looked toward the window, eyes wide before he stood. Ghostlike, he flowed across the room and drew the thick burgundy curtains over the window. He stayed there, long nailed fingers clutching the thick material. "I can't let anyone see me," he mumbled, answering my unspoken curiosity. And, for a few seconds, he stood there in silence, his back facing me, completely immobile. "Kurama," I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "Please tell me."

"…I died," the whispered voice was thin, and full of a sharp pain. Pain…no, it was agony. "How?" He mumbled something, absently running his fingers over my books, pulling one out to flip through. "I was a thief, Shiori. The leader of a large group of bandits for centuries…and in case you care to know, demons can live for many thousands of years." He gave me a nervous smile and leaned against the far wall with his arms folded behind his back. "At one point, I lost my dear friend and partner in a botched heist. He was caught in an ambush, urged me to leave so I would not share that fate." His eyes darkened; his soul seemed heavily burdened by the death he was speaking of. I clenched my hands together, unsure of what to do. I wanted to comfort. 'He needs distance' I told myself, 'Let him talk.' "The guilt of losing him drove me to madness. Months later, I stupidly let myself be caught by a hunter. He killed me, and my soul escaped to this world, to hide. …I think you can guess the rest of that."

"Bounty hunter? Who would want you dead?" Yoko looked over at me and gave a sad smile, "Many people, I'm sure. Being a thief makes you a lot of enemies." He gave a helpless shrug and moved back to sit across from me, leaning back in the stiff chair and crossing his legs, head cocked to one side, "What else would you like to know?"

We spoke for a long while after that. I tried not to overwhelm him with too many questions, and I could see him growing more anxious as the evening wore onward into the moonlit night. I learned about his life as a Spirit Detective, the way he saved me. However, I couldn't help scolding him over being a thief of all things, and that gave me the smile, the humble apology. "Alright, your turn." I stared at him, reaching out to run my fingers through the shining white hair. "To talk, you mean?" A single nod. "Very well. What would you possibly want to know about an old woman like me?"

"I want you to tell me what you were like before. Suichi, I mean, and before you met his father." I blushed and laughed, realizing that we had never really discussed my life before the title 'Mother'.

"Believe it or not," I whispered, leaning over to grab my forgotten teacup, "Your mother was quite the rebel in her twenties, teens even." A white eyebrow shot upward and he gave me a shocked smile, "No!" I laughed and gave my own shrug, taking a short sip of my now-cold tea. "Oh yes. My hair was cut to a crew cut, awful clothes, makeup, the whole shebang." My blush darkened and we shared a light laugh.

"Before I even met Suichi's father, I had a wild European lover who snuck me pot and took me to some of the worst concerts." "Good god, woman," my demon-son chuckled and shook his hand, pressing his hand over his eyes, "How…what happened? The most unexpected thing to learn about you; I am in shock." I shared the embarrassing stories of my youth with him, and we shared laughter when I told him about my first hangover, my first and last shoplift. "I feel a little foolish telling this to a master thief, mind you." He leaned back and gave me a smile, "I can't believe my perfect mother was a rebel who used mind altering substances. I haven't even seen you drink." I shrugged again, "I guess we both had our fun, didn't we?" We smiled, shared a comfortable silence as we let all the information soak in.

"So, Yoko", I stirred sugar into fresh tea, "How long will you stay? Before you go back to Suichi, I mean." He took a deep breath, tossing a lock of stray hair over his shoulder, "I don't know how to answer that. I'd like to stay out a while longer, stretch my legs so to speak. But if you'd like to see your son, I could—" "No no, take your time. I love hearing from the more adventurous side of my son. And you are welcome to come out when you'd like." I nearly regretted saying that when I saw a mischevious smile and glint in his eye, "Thank you. …Would you like to do something fun?" I was nervous looking at him now.

"Have you ever seen the city from the sky?"

1: This is an assumption. I'm putting Yoko at about 7 feet and Suichi at 5'6…ish.