---
Didn't you notice?
Chapter 2
Didn't you notice?
Chapter 2
Botan prepared to leave after dropping Yusuke and Kurama off at Genkai's.
"Yusuke, I'll come back and check on Kurama as soon as I can."
"Right. Thanks a lot Botan."
"I'll see you soon Yusuke."
"Yeah. Later." Yusuke returned to the room where Kurama lay sleeping. "So Grandma? How is he?"
"I've given him a full exam. He doesn't appear to be injured in any way."
"That's great. I'm gonna go call Kuwabara."
---
Kurama opened his eyes and for a moment was unsure of where he was.
"Good, you're awake. Hey Dimwit!"
Kurama turned to see Genkai sitting across the room.
"Good grief, I'm just in the other room, you don't have to yell!"
Yusuke walked through a door to Kurama's left. "Hey Kurama, how're you feeling?"
"Answer truthfully." Genkai interjected.
Kurama smiled and sat up in his futon. "A bit tired, but otherwise fine. Yusuke, what happened?"
"You got attacked by that little runt of a demon and you passed out. I was starting to worry about you, you've been out for a while." Yusuke sat down beside him.
"Have I? How long?"
"Just over three hours now."
Kurama's gaze hardened. "Genkai, Yusuke, I thank you for taking care of me, however; I must be leaving now."
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"Yes, Yusuke. Thank you, but I must be going. Kaasan expected me back over an hour ago."
"Well, alright. Hey Kurama, what happened back there anyway?"
"Honestly? I remember you firing your spirit gun, then nothing until I woke up here."
"Well, take it easy okay?"
"I will. Thank you Yusuke, Genkai." he nodded to each in turn.
---
Kurama returned home to find his mother, as expected, very worried.
"Shuichi. I thought you would be home an hour ago."
"I'm sorry Kaasan. Yusuke insisted I stay until the movie was over, and their phones are out." To his mother, Kurama had been over at Yusuke's watching a movie.
"I'm just glad that you're okay. I was starting to worry about you. Would you like something to eat now Shuichi?"
"No thank you Kaasan. I'm rather tired. I think I'll just head to bed now."
"I see, if you're sure. Goodnight Shuichi."
"Goodnight Kaasan."
Kurama went straight to his room. He was strangely worn out from the days events. He fell onto his bed, not bothering to change clothes, and instantly fell asleep.
A silent black form disappeared from outside his window.
---
"Minamino residence."
"Oh, Minamino-san, is K-uh-Shuichi home?"
"I'm sorry Yusuke, but Shuichi went out about an hour ago. I'll tell him you called when he returns."
"Thanks a lot. Bye."
"Goodbye."
That morning after waking up Kurama had decided to take a walk in the park. His mind had wandered to the previous days mission. That demon,he thought, How could I have let it catch me off guard a second time? And why can I not remember being attacked? I'll have to visit Spirit World and see what Koenma has found on this demon. It's possible that it has some unusual capabilities. He stopped his train of thought and nealt beside a sadly wilted rosebush. "The city really should take better care of the plants here." He tapped into his spirit energy to revive the plant, but what he received was a searing pain throughout his entire body. He felt as if every cell in his body were exploding. He tried vainly to find the source of his pain and block it out, but his attempt only caused him more pain. He vision blurred, the last thing he saw clearly being a dried up rosebud.
Hiei abruptly awoke from his resting place high in a tree. He had felt Kurama's energy rise enourmously and then drop to barely anything. He quickly began his search for the fox. Hiei found Kurama collapsed at the far side of the park. Besides the fact that his spirit energy was nearly nonexistant, and that he was again unconscious, Hiei noticed that his right arm, from shoulder to wrist, was covered in spots of blood. He pulled back Kurama's sleeve and saw numerous cuts increasing in depth from the wrist up. He wrapped Kurama's arm with his scarf to stop the bleeding, which it was doing a lot of, and contacted Yusuke, who he sensed was nearby.
Detective. Get to the park. Now.
Hiei? What's wrong?
Get here. Now. Hiei left no room for question.
Yusuke arrived a few minutes later and practically fell over when he saw Kurama lying in the grass.
"Kurama! Hiei, what happened?"
"I don't know. I found him like this just a few minutes ago."
Yusuke knelt down beside Kurama and noticed the scarf wrapped around his arm, then that Hiei was lacking his usual accessory. "What's wrong with his arm?"
Hiei unraveled the scarf to show Yusuke Kurama's mysterious cuts.
"Aargh! I don't understand! Grandma said there was nothing wrong with Kurama!"
Kurama's eyes suddenly fluttered open. "Yusuke? Hiei?" He asked, confused.
"Kurama? What's going on? What happened? Are you okay?" Yusuke barely kept himself from shouting.
Kurama sat himself up and looked at his arm with a mixture of confusion and pain. He sought desperately for an explanation. He remembered that he had gone for a walk in the park, then he saw the rosebush, and then...all he could remember was pain. Nothing else.
"Kurama?"
It was just like when he had wakened at Genkai's.
"Kurama?"
It was as though his memory had been wiped.
"Kurama!"
He couldn't understand what had happened. He tried and tried again but repeatedly drew a blank.
"Kurama!"
Yusuke had his hands on Kurama's shoulders and was shaking him. Kurama turned his head towards Yusuke, his eyes were distant and confused.
"Kurama, what's wrong? Talk to me, are you okay?"
"Yes...I think."
"What the heck does that mean! What happened?"
Kurama opened his mouth to speak, then closed it as if he couldn't find the words. Finally, "I don't know."
Yusuke was now starting to panic. Kurama still had a dazed look on his face, his eyes staring straight into his, but not seeing.
Fox.
Hiei's voice rang sharply in Kurama's mind. Kurama gasped, his head snapping towards Hiei, whose face remained impassive. Kurama took a deep breath, regaining his composure. His eyes closed for a long moment.
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what came over me."
"Forget about that, are you okay?" Yusuke had lowered his voice after seeing Kurama focus.
"I'm fine now. Don't worry about it."
"Kurama, this isn't like you. Maybe you should go and see Genkai."
Kurama removed Hiei's scarf from his arm. "Perhaps I will." And with that Kurama left.
Yusuke looked as though he wasn't completely sure of all that had just happened. He just stood there, watching Kurama leave. A part of him told him he should follow. But another part was a bit more realistic. Kurama wouldn't say any more than he had. Following him would be pointless. Hiei narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth tilting into a frown.
---
Kurama took his time walking home, his mind not really set on anything. When he reached his house he saw a note on the door.
Shuichi,
Went to the store for a few items, be back soon.
Love you, Shiori
P.S. Yusuke called while you were out.
Well, he thought, this makes things a bit easier. At least I won't have to try and explain what happened to my arm, not that I know that myself. He went up to his room and got out his first aid kit. The cuts are so deep. He made sure to change into another long-sleeve shirt, as he would have to wear them the next few days or make up some sort of explanation. Suddenly overwhelmed by the desire to sleep he lay on his bed and did just that.
----
{End Chapter 2}
{End Chapter 2}
