Disclaimer: All characters used in this fanfic (save some others) are the rightful property of Yoshishiro Togashi, Shueisha, Fuji TV and St. Pierrot. Don't sue me please, I'm very poor.

If you want to send C&C, this is the address: gab_ab@edsamail.com.ph

Prologue: First to Last

Kurama, also known as Shuichi Minamino, stared blankly at the tall, handsome bishonen in front of him. Believe it or not, during the past six months he'd spent at this school, this particular issue had become as old as… well, he was. He braced himself for what was to come. How can I put this gently?

"Well, did ya like the flowers?" the brown-haired youth asked, anticipation clear in his voice.

Kurama's face turned blue. Oh yeah, this is going to be fun.

"To tell you honestly… the flowers were nice…" Kurama began. His left eye was already twitching, and it took the combined efforts of his underlying kitsune form, as well as his own willpower, to prevent him from losing what little lunch he had eaten.

"And?" The guy jumped forward, taking hold of Kurama's shoulders.

This was already forming into a scene taken straight from a manga. A Shonen-Ai doujinshi, to be exact… not that Kurama was into those things. He shuddered in disgust. He wanted to punch the guy, but was afraid to ruin his good reputation as the perfect student.

"But I really can't accept them," he said simply.

"Nonsense!" cried the boy, a spark of hope lighting up in him despite the rejection. So, she's the traditionally shy type kind of girl… he thought joyfully.

"Because…" Kurama continued, totally ignoring him, "I'm really a boy."

"…." was the guy's witty response.

Sighing -- Kurama was not too keen on hurting people… unless necessary -- he scurried away from the very sorry scene of a very broken-hearted boy. That went well….

"Why me?" Kurama asked no one in particular, rewarding himself with odd looks from those who didn't realize what had just happened, and snickers from those who did.

Ever since he had arrived in Meiou High, Kurama's days had all been like this. He had more than his share of admirers… half of which were male, and half of those males knew he was a male. It was a taxing situation for Shuichi Minamino, good human son of Shiori Minamino… and downright embarrassing for the once-feared kitsune known as Kurama. But his admirers were not the only ones at fault here. His long red hair wasn't helping matters, but he wouldn't even consider cutting it. So he decided, once and for all, to simply ignore such things. If they thought of him as a woman, or as a suitable target for male affection, then that was their problem. He was above such things.

"Hello, miss… You seem all alone. May I accompany you?"

"…."

Nevertheless, kitsune or not, Kurama… Minamino was still a human being deep in his heart. Who could blame the guy for being pissed once in a while? Even Minamino, as long a fuse as he had, had his limits.

"I'm a guy, and I'm not interested. Now, please leave me alone," Kurama said in a calm, unnerving voice that sent shivers to the base of the guy's spine.

Sighing yet again, he left another hapless, dumbstruck teenager behind.  So, only two this afternoon. Today must be a good day… oh joy.

Shuichi Minamino was a good boy. He would never leave his house without his mother's permission. An obedient boy to the core, he always did what he was told to do.

So he usually left disobedience to Kurama. Which made him think, at times, that he had three instead of two personalities… the good son, Shuichi Minamino; the cruel kitsune thief who he had been back in his past life in the Demon World; and Kurama, the gray shade halfway between the two. Neither fully human nor fully demon, Kurama was, in his opinion, his true self.

What got him to stay up late in the middle of the night for hours on end? A little koorime named Hiei. Kurama usually waited on this spot in the middle of a park near a tree where the "little bastard", as Kuwabara would call him, usually slept. Tonight he was supposed to alert Hiei to join him and the other tantei to investigate some strange happenings in the Human World. Koenma, Prince of the Spirit World, had even said that he'd offer Hiei's freedom in exchange for his services in this mission. Needless to say, the mission seemed to be truly a matter of great consequence for such a thing to be offered.

What's taking him so long? Kurama thought, worried about what might have happened to his koorime friend. Has something happened, Hiei?

Two figures stood in the darkness of a run-down alley. One figure, the smaller one, was in a defensive stance.  The other loomed over him.

"Who are you?" Hiei seethed, his hand grasping the hilt of his katana. He already had several bruises all over his body, as well as a small trickle of blood below his chapped lips.

"I seek only one thing, koorime…" the dark figure in chain-mail armor said with a blank monotone. "A soul."

"Humph," was Hiei's response. With only a slight pause, he prepared for his next attack.

"Ja-ou-en-satsu-koku-ryuu-ha!"

No holding back now… I've already tried everything, Hiei thought.

A conflagration of black flames in the form of a demonoid dragon-spirit emerged. The dark figure easily evaded the black dragon spirit heading towards him with impressive speed, despite his heavy armor. He then ripped apart his breastplate revealing… nothing. A cavity in his own body. It sucked the black dragon into itself like a vacuum. Hiei was shocked to see the cavity eat his attack whole, and then remain just as empty as it was before.

"You're a spirited one," the now visible figure said in a cadaverous tone, unfazed. He seemed rather bored, his expression flat and one-dimensional despite his bishonen looks. He certainly didn't mind the gaping hole in the middle of his chest.

"Any more tricks, koorime?"

Hiei flinched. He was exhausted from using his most powerful attack so soon. But he wasn't one to give up easily. If anything, his pride wouldn't allow it.

The being stared at the koorime blankly. He merely stood there, chest cavity exposed, waiting patiently for Hiei's next attack.

Disappearing into a blur, Hiei slashed at the figure in chain mail; twenty-two strikes in less than a second. His sword swished through the seemingly undead person like a knife through butter. Or through air….

Hiei looked at his opponent warily. Perfectly intact, the being was giving him an unnerving stare.

"Bravo."

As he spoke the word, he shifted and punched the koorime. Several bones shattered from the impact, causing Hiei to lurch forward and cough blood. "I leave you now. You have nothing for me."

So Hiei lay there in the alley, battered and beaten. He stifled a gasp at the last words the being spoke, before falling into unconsciousness.

"It is Minamino Shuichi whom I want."

To be continued.

Author's notes: Note that the title is Shonen, not Shonen-Ai. Shonen-Ai (male-male relationships) and yaoi are just not my cup of tea. This is dedicated to Chimamire Kitsune for giving me the inspiration to write this fic… wherever you are, this is for you.

I know… Very unclear premise. it is my first fic. I just hope things will get clearer by the first chapter.

I guess that's all for now… bye!

C. Castañeda, a.k.a. Abdiel

Webmaster: Larry F
Last revision: January 7, 2006