II. Kurama's brand new tail

"Gomen nasai, minna-san for being late and for taking so long to talk to Botan, so how are we going to go about this?" Asked Kurama. He had taken the opportunity to pull Botan aside to talk to her about the favor he had wanted from Koenma-sama for his 'niisan. Everyone was looking at him with curiosity. Kurama was almost always on time for these meetings, punctual and dependable nobody had to trouble about him before in ordinary circumstances, he didn't usually talk to Botan either unless it was about the mission. 

"It must be Kurama's new oniisan. What did you talk to Botan about, anyway, Kurama?" Said Yuusuke when the silence had grown uncomfortable as he took pity on poor Kurama whom had been trying NOT to tell them about that fact. Earning him a glare from the former. 

"A personal matter, Yuusuke, nothing to do with the mission at all."

"New 'niisan." Said Genkai raising her eyebrow and training an intense inquiring glance at Kurama.

"Aa, 'baasan, I have acquired a new oniisan this past month. His name is Ran Fujimiya and he is most happy to have me as his otouto." Kurama sweat-drops as he says this.

"Will he be a problem?" Genkai said without expression, Kurama was evading her question and they both knew it.

"I will deal with it. He is just over-protective." Kurama didn't want to share his 'niisan with his friends since it was the surest way to get his identity revealed to Ran. He had only introduced Yuusuke and the others to Ran because his mother knew them and might say something to make Ran suspicious. His 'niisan he suspected wouldn't be fooled too long by his excuses since he seems to be bent on following "little Shuu-kun" around.

"You'd better." Was all Genkai said. She knew as well as everyone in the room that they couldn't risk Reikai "non-combatants" in what they did and how harboring secret life cut both ways. It would be better for Kurama to say what would be appropriate considering none in the room knew about this Ran.

A bout of "how is he like?" and "how did you meet him?" questions delayed their discussion further. He answered as best as he could and they went on with the rest of meeting and assignments. He managed to keep Aya-'neesan and the favor he had asked Botan about out of the conversation though, he had a feeling that Ran wouldn't like to have them prying into THAT. He prayed to Inari that he had assuaged their curiosity enough so that they wouldn't seek him out and got on to review his part of the assignments as the gathering broke up and he went home with Hiei.

So that man is Kurama's brother… that thought comforted Hiei though he didn't let it show to anyone as he listened to the fox and the others chatter about Ran Fujimiya. He had been there that afternoon lurking with Botan in the tree when he noticed the stranger with his friend and partner. He felt a twinge of jealousy at the way the fox talked to the stranger drawing him into the conversation as he did with him when they were with Yuusuke and the others.

***

After the meeting, Hiei had accompanied his partner and friend Kurama to the latter's house, happy to be alone with him. Though that was another thing the little jaganashi would rather die to admit to the fox, he had missed Kurama's comforting presence. In the six months, that he had been in the Makai training as Mukuro's heir and patrolling the kingdom he was going to inherit he had often had strange dreams of Kurama that always made him feel all the more lonelier afterwards. Dreams that would probably get him teased to no end by the fox. After he'd escorted Kurama to his room, he settled at the nearby tree to sleep.

***

Omi looked about with some interest at his fellow students, he knew that Aya-kun would grill him later about them. He still had the slight limp gifted to him two days ago by the trap laid for them by the Schreint. He didn't let it bother him, he was really lucky it hadn't been worse. If the team'd been a few more minutes late in getting him out of there he would be dead from poison. 

It had been quite amusing this morning. Today had been the first time he was going to Meioh High. Aya had been such a mother hen over him, quietly fussing to confirm that he had everything down to pat and that his legs weren't hurting to much. Aya had veritably launching him out the door before the latter went to walk his little brother to school. Shuuichi is really lucky to have a brother like Aya-kun. Thought Omi with a twinge of old hurt, a bit healed now by time but still… 

He remembered his brothers, both of which they had killed. Of the two he was remembering Hirofumi most of all, the one he had to kill. Hirofumi never cared half as much for him as his commander evidently cared about his otouto and imuoto. It was heartwarming to see such care lavished on to him if only as a substitute for the absent Shuuichi. 

Omi came to silently to class and slid into his seat, waiting for the redhead that he was to observe. Persia had managed to pull another metaphoric rabbit out of his hat by managing not only to transfer Omi to Meioh High but also to get him into the same honors class as Shuuichi. His grades helped but still, in the middle of the term? The man could be quite a magician at times. Then his half-amused thoughts came to a screeching halt as a slender brunette sauntered into the classroom. Everything suddenly turned grim and deadly. It was his rival from Schwartz, Nagi Noue. 

Ran prepared dinner with a feeling of anticipation. Omi had finally recovered enough to go to school, Ran still simmered at how they had fallen deep into the trap. How that Neu had deceived Yohji, deceived them all. K'so, they didn't even find out where his sister had been really taken. He didn't let that spoil his happy mood though. Persia had arranged for the youngest member of their group to be transferred to Meioh High so that he could also keep an eye on the "mission objective". Ran could tell that their chief was chaffing of the lack of progress on the case but he didn't care. He hadn't found the ONE yet and that was that. Omi might have better luck hunting amongst Shuuichi's classmates but he didn't think so. It did help make him feel a little bit happier at having someone guard Shuuichi while he was at school and out of his sight though. 

Now that he had alleviated his brother's suspicions somewhat; Ran had taken to walking Shuuichi to school and back but it was no substitute for having him watched twenty four hours a day. Something he had failed to convince Persia was necessary. He had convinced Omi to stay after normal school hours for today though to observe his brother at soccer practice. He smirked at that, he had just come from walking his younger brother and Shuuichi-kun's cheerful chatter always put him in a better frame of mind. What would Omi like for dinner? Hmm…

"Aya-kun, you aren't going to like this" Omi said as he came in the back door into the kitchen where Ran was. He knew he had to break the bad news as soon as possible, Ran had such a temper sometimes. "Nagi-san of Schwartz is in the same class as me and Shuuichi. He has been there for two months."

"Nani! Why didn't Persia and Manx tell us that?" Aya cursed, it was the longest sentence Omi heard Aya speak and his ears burned at some of the phrases.

"They probably didn't tell us because THEY knew it would put your pants' legs into a twist. Aya, I think you should quit it, you're embarrassing the kid." Yohji's amusement cut through Ran's words like a knife. It was rather strained but genuine for all at that. Ran took note of it and subsided, he was absurdly glad that someone found some comfort in the situation. Besides, Yohji needed the cheer after what he had to do that last mission... But hell, if he would let the team know that! Leveling one of his trademarked deadly glares at Yohji. 

"I think it is time for me to introduce you to my otouto…"

I take it back, poor Shuuichi, Aya-kun sure is smothering in his caring. Thought Omi as he noted the determined look cemented on Ran's face and wincing at the strictures the latter was saying to him.

"…If possible do not leave him for an instant, while you are in school and until I've come to fetch him home…"

And poor me, I have a feeling school is going to be a torture this term. Nagi glaring at me at every turn and Shuuichi growing suspicious that I'm watching him for his brother. 

***

The frustrations were bearing down on Nagi, Crawford was getting to be a pain. Their leader wanted some results, and he wanted them now. It's been two months, Nagi, haven't you found out anything about him at all to say if he's psychic or not… said the scolding voice of the latter in Nagi's memory. What could I say, it's not as if Minamono-kun was forthcoming with his classmates. Shuuichi Minamono was friendly as their surveillance report had said and he welcomed all into his circle of school friends but that was just the surface. But in truth, Minamono-kun was a very private person, very little could be said about him other what is publicly known. To top it all off, Tsukiyono-kun of WeiB had now shown up to shadow the target as well. 

Nagi couldn't get near Minamono-kun without the genki WeiB member popping out of the woodwork to give him that oh-so-cheerful smile and he thought having Fujimiya-san around was bad. That constant smile was getting to be an irritant, he'd have to get his mission objective done as soon as possible before he did something extremely unfortunate, preferably something to wipe that annoying grin off of Tsukiyono-kun's face. His opposite number had managed somehow to mysteriously—well not so mysteriously since he was a friend of the target's brother—to be seated with Minamono-kun in the cafeteria at lunch. A thing that took him at least a month to achieve! He must do something very soon.

***

Speaking of frustrations, Shuuichi, or rather Kurama, was about to scream. He had acquired a second—or in his case a ninth and not a useful—tail these few days. Omi-kun was true to his word following him at the order of his brother. He couldn't excuse himself to go to the washroom for a moment without the ever-obsequious Omi Tsukiyono appearing behind him. He hadn't even been able to get out of class even once to do his own investigating assignment. That was something he had to tell Hiei the next time the fire demon "dropped by" his room, if 'niisan don't find someone to hang around his window at night that is—from the way Ran-niichan was going, it wasn't long before he did that. And he thought it would be easy to get away from Tsukiyono-kun. 

Kurama smiled a little as he remembered the time when Omi-kun introduced himself. They were about to eat lunch at the cafeteria. There were a goodly number of students who ate their lunches before they went home so he had not been surprised when someone started to seat himself across him. Takino-kun and his other school friends were out having lunch in on of the downtown establishments so he had "their " table all to himself. He had soccer practice this afternoon so could not join them. His teammates weren't so concerned with punctuality either so they had also eating out. 

The stranger, a blond boy with blue eyes smiled as Kurama looked up from the packed lunch 'kaasan prepared for him.

"Konichiwa, Minamono-kun? I am Omi Tsukiyono. I work with your 'niisan at the Koneko no Sumu Ie. I have heard so much about you from Ran-kun." 

That long stream of words was spoken with the tinge of blush coloring the other boy's cheeks. 

"Konichiwa, Tsukiyono-kun." Kurama said with a slightly puzzled smile on his face. Why was Tsukiyono-kun blushing? Wait, didn't he say he worked with 'niisan at the Koneko no Sumu Ie? Yes, he did. Kurama put two and two together.

"Ran-niisan told you to watch over me did he?"

"Like a shadow." Confirmed the other with something like relief in his voice that Kurama understood. It would be as embarrassing for him if he had to explain to someone that their family had sent him to spy on them as well.

"Well, let's make it painless then, let's be friends call me Shuuichi, ne?" It would be easier to escape him if he weren't on his guard. Though I doubt any teenage human can outsmart me with all my years as a thief. Kurama had thought half-amusedly at the fun he was going to have avoiding this new complication. Let the chase begin.

"Omi." Smiled Omi plainly relieved that he was taking it so well.

That was then, this was now. Kurama was sincerely peeved at the fact that he hadn't been able to shake him even once. What the latter lacked for experience he certainly made up with enthusiasm and Kurama was hampered by the realization that if he did manage to evade Omi-kun he'd have his oniisan to deal with the next time he saw him. It was getting to the point that Kurama was thinking of telling Ran everything. Two more days, he promised himself, if in two more days he couldn't get away from Omi-kun then he'd tell Ran the whole truth. Time was running out. 

***

Omi sneezed, he wondered if he was coming down with a cold. It would certainly be the consistent with his luck this past week. He wasn't having a fun day, following Shuuichi-kun was certainly exhausting. For someone reputed to be a perfect student he certainly got around. But then he must have had some way to meet those delinquent friends of his. Now, now Omi, don't think sour thoughts of Shuuchi-kun, especially since he's been so nice to you following him around like some lovesick fan-girl! 

That was another sore point in Omi's book, he had been getting threats of all sorts from the self-declared "Minamono-kun Fan Club", albeit mostly dirty looks these were getting tiresome. The killing glare of Nagi-kun was one thing, he had anticipated that and met those with his usual sunny smile but these were completely unforeseen. Especially since the object of their attention seems to give him implicit permission to do so. There weren't that many fan-boys as there were fan-girls but those were giving him the jitters, it looks like he was the one who was going to get hurt if this was to draw on judging from the way they were staring at him evilly. Omi thought miserably, and he couldn't even defend himself with his darts or his crossbow since that would give his cover away.

***

Nagi waited behind a tree patiently for "the interval in between the changing of guards" as he thought of the time Shuuichi Minamono were to go to the soccer field to practice. There was that few minutes when Tsukiyono-kun left him alone since Fujimiya-san was almost always escorted him to the soccer field, if one could catch him before the WeiB leader would appear then he might have a chance, no such luck today. Oh well tomorrow then, he had some time still. It would be at least a week before Crawford really got mad. 

***

After soccer practice, Kurama went out of the locker room after changing back into his school uniform, physically refreshed if not mentally with the source of his current problem waiting outside for him. He felt somewhat guilty at that thought, he really can't blame his oniisan for feeling protective of him. Being annoyed with the Ran-niichan for things that he himself had the fault of wasn't nice either. He began to chatter with his brother as usual of his day at school when he sensed a familiar presence behind him.

"Hiei." Kurama said turning around to give the fire demon his special smile.

"Kurama." Said the fire demon his eyes unreadable as always but a thread of conversation went into Kurama's head in Hiei's voice. 

:Genkai sent me when you didn't report back in. Have you found any leads to them yet?: No need to say who them meant. 

:No.:

He was going to elaborate on that when he remembered Ran standing there. It hadn't been long—no mental conversation ever took long—but he did have to introduce Hiei to Ran.

"Ran-niichan, this is Hiei Jaganashi my best friend. Hiei-kun this is Ran Fujimiya my oniisan."

"Hn." Said both Ran and Hiei echoing one another down to the guarded searching once over look both gave one another. 

They were really very much alike. Thought Kurama, irritation all but forgotten in the rising wave of amusement that threatened to give way into laughter. These encounters in the demon world were the ones that were most dangerous. When two demons would sniff and gauge and decide if they can tolerate one another in the same territory. They were too much alike to give him any peace till they've decided. He was reminded of his thoughts the first time he saw his brother; dangerous was a word he used to describe Ran then.

Kurama exhaled when Ran said 'Hn' again and went on to walk in the direction of his house with him and Hiei. Bloodshed had been adverted even if temporarily. He settled back to talking to Hiei mentally. 

:I've had unanticipated problems. It seems that 'niisan's friend is in the same classes I'm in and being as protective as he is, 'niisan asked Omi-kun to "look after" me.:

"Hiei is quite happy to make your acquaintance, 'Niisan. And I'm sure that 'Niisan is glad to meet you at last Hiei."

:Can you fulfill your end of the mission?:

"Hn."

"Hn." 

:I might have to tell 'niisan all about us to do so.:

"So did you miss me?"

:Are you sure that is wise? How well do you know him?:

"Hn."

:He works in a Koneko no Sumu Ie with four other guys….: Kurama began as he told Hiei everything he knew about his new brother. He didn't even think to withhold Aya-neesan and her situation. This is Hiei; I can trust him with anything. Hiei would know how to be discreet about this and would know enough not to let his 'niisan know about it either. He almost wished he didn't start to do so because retelling what little he knew reminded him again about his misgivings of Ran. The facts were just too few. 

:Hn.: Was all he said at that.

Preoccupied with their silent and verbal conversations, Kurama was unaware of Ran who was drawing alarming conclusions about Hiei. His eyes alternately widened and narrowed though, his replies getting more absentminded. This Hiei was short almost like a boy except that he spoke with a bass rumble that said he was older than his height proclaimed him to be. His eyes had the cold glitter that marked him—at least in Ran's eyes—as a killer and he believed he had found the one they were looking for: the man who was responsible for the death of Shiori's assassins. This thought however didn't give Ran any pleasure for he noted how his brother seemed to dote on the short guy. Shuuichi all but cuddled up to him! Being protected by a good efficient killer is one thing but being attached to one was another. He didn't want anyone as innocent as his brother associating with a cold-blooded killer. He can barely tolerate having to reveal himself to the latter and to have someone like Hiei close to his brother made him apprehensive to say the least! But how to separate them, they were obviously close and... 

Now, now, Ran, your just jealous that someone else has your little brother's affection other than your mother and yourself. And he is very like you, though you don't really have cause to be jealous since he does show you the equal amount of attention he does to Hiei now doesn't he? Ran scolded himself but he still felt uneasy about the whole thing.

Review This Fic...