For a week Kurama remained confined to the bed, he wasn't aloud to even attempt getting out of bed until Grandma Kanade deemed him well. His fever jumped up and down, his symptoms messed with him just as much. Just when he thought he could keep some broth down, it decided to make a re-appearance half an hour later. Thus he went without much in his stomach for a few days because of this.

While laying in bed he tended to dwell on the fact that he had gotten sick at all, he hadn't come down with even a cough since he was a young thing. Of course, when she caught him dwelling on it, she'd scold him.

'Stop dwelling on it, you'll be sicker longer you will,' she would always say. Afterwards she would see to it that he drank all of the medicine, which tasted very bitter mind you. However, it did lift some of his worst symptoms and he'd be able to sleep for a while without trouble. For that he was grateful.

As the sun poured into the room Kurama waited a few moments before attempting to open his eyes. He expected his head to throb from the sunlight, but the headache never came. He sat up in bed easier than he had in days and was relieved to find that he didn't feel dizzy nor sick to his stomach. He stretched his arms above his head and groaned as something in his back popped. He didn't realize how stiff he had been while in that bed until now. He also realized that he was clothed in a white yukata, why he hadn't noticed that before he wasn't sure.

Though he felt much better, he was still weak and his throat was still a bit on the sore side. At the moment though he wasn't going to complain, all he cared about was that he was feeling better. He wandered out of the room and used his nose to locate Grandma Kanade.

"You're feeling better I see," she said with a smile as he entered the sitting room. She put aside the shirt she had been sewing and walked over to him. "Hm, no fever, not so pale anymore," she muttered as she looked him over. "Good. Now come, one more dose of medicine ought to make certain you don't have a re-lapse." She missed the look of disgust that crossed Kurama's face when she went into the kitchen. He followed, though reluctantly.

Kanade handed him the cup and made sure he drank it all, now that he had regained a sense of taste the medicine no longer tasted bitter. It was down right disgusting. He attempted to hide a disgusted look though did not succeed.

"Tastes worse now that your sense of taste has returned eh?" she chuckled. "Sit, I'm sure you can stomach some broth now." He did as told and watched the old woman cook. "So, what be your name?" she questioned.

"Youko," he replied roughly. He hated how rough his voice sounded because of his throat. Grandma Kanade did not turn around.

"What be your name?" she asked again, this time with a bit of a bite to her tone. Kurama was taken aback. Why didn't she believe him? Did he sound like he was lying?

"That is my name," he said firmly. He hoped he sounded convincing. The old woman did not speak for many moments; the silence that lapsed between them was unnerving. She poured the broth into a bowl and placed it before Kurama and told him to eat. She then returned to the sitting room. As he ate Kurama wandered off into thought. Did she believe him? She couldn't know who he was did she? Or was she a bounty hunter and was waiting for him to reveal his real name so she could kill him? Then again, why would she wait? She could have killed him when he was vulnerable.

Kanade returned to the room and stood near the table with her hands clasped behind her back. She studied him for many moments with a look that made his blood freeze.

"Stand," she ordered. He did as told with much suspicion, his gaze never wandered from her small form. "What is your name?" she asked yet again.

"I already told you, my name is Youko," he insisted.

"Yet again you lie."

"What makes you think so?" he questioned more harshly than intended.

"Your heart beat quickens when you lie. You're nervous, bridging panic, you seem like a caged animal that has been beaten several times," she said in an even tone. "What is your true name?" Kurama remained quiet for several moments pondering whether or not to reveal himself to a possible enemy. No, he would not. He remained silent.

"Hm, good," Kanade said suddenly, effectively throwing Kurama through a loop. The look on his face must have shown it for she chuckled. "You did not reveal your true name to me; you do have some sense after all."

"What are you talking about old woman?" he growled. However it was not as effective for his voice was still scratchy.

"Had I been interested in the bounty, the moment you revealed your name to me I would have all the proof I needed to have your head." Kurama reeled back and extended his claws, taking on a defensive position.

"Calm yourself, I have no interest in that bounty over your head. Had I been, I would have killed you the moment I figured out your true identity." Kurama was not at all calmed by her words.

"Why should I trust your words?"

"You are correct boy, you have no reason to. Words alone can not be trusted, especially not nowadays," she agreed. "Though I have not killed you have I?" Kurama's stance loosened, but he kept a good distance between Kanade and himself.

"If you know who I am, why have you not killed me?" he questioned.

"Because, not all things are as they seem," she replied. "Are they not?" Kurama continued to look at her warily, waiting for any signs of deception. He let his hands fall to his sides and stood up straight, though did not move any closer. She understood his wariness; he had every right to think her a hunter.

"Oi, Grandma! You here?" a voice called through the house.

"You're welcome to stay here," Kanade smiled before going to the sitting room where her guest was shouting from. Kurama remained in the kitchen, re-playing the conversation in his mind.

T.T.O.A.T.

"What be all this shouting about?" Kanade mock scolded her grandson with her hands on her hips.

"Hello Grandma," Kuronue grinned and kissed her on the cheek. "Magarine came with the other traders this time, she had this all ready for you," he informed Kanade as he handed her a small parcel.

"The next time you see the dear; tell her thank you for me."

"Yes grandma. So, who's here?" he asked upon smelling an unfamiliar youkai.

"I found a boy in my wagon a week ago, soaked to the bone and ill he was. He's doing much better today," she replied.

"Still taking in strays? What would grandfather say?" Kuronue teased. At this Kanade chuckled.

"I took you in did I not?" Kuronue placed a hand over his heart and pretended to look offended.

"Ouch, you wound me!"

"So, where you be hiding yourself?"

"Looking for a kitsune," Kuronue replied as he sat on a chair heavily.

"Mmm, a difficult task indeed. Why are you searching for a kitsune in the first place dear?" Kanade raised an eyebrow. Kuronue never did something without reason.

"Merely because the boy caught my interest," he put an extra emphasis on 'interest'. He would not say aloud his plans for the boy to Kanade with a guest around, within earshot or not. The sound of someone having a coughing fit brought his attention to the kitchen. He watched as Kanade shuffled into the kitchen, disappearing from his sight.

'Hm, maybe I should go see who her guest is,' he pondered. 'That youki is oddly familiar, where have I sensed it before?' Kuronue closed his eyes and tried to remember where he sensed that youki and who it had belonged to. Kanade poked her head around the corner and beckoned Kuronue to come into the kitchen and have some tea.

Kuronue stood and strode over to the kitchen entrance, but froze upon seeing who was seated at the table. He couldn't believe it; the kitsune he had been looking for had been at his grandmother's house the entire time! Currently, said kitsune was staring at the cough medicine that smelled worse than the previous medicine had tasted.

'Isn't that ironic,' Kuronue thought sourly as he sat down. Kuronue leaned back in his chair and studied the kitsune that sat before him. Kurama had not yet acknowledged Kuronue's presence. The kit looked worse than the last time Kuronue had seen him, but chalked it up to the fact that the kit had been ill. He didn't bother to hide his amusement as he watched Kurama down the cough medicine and grimaced at the taste.

When Kurama finally looked up he was highly surprised to be looking straight at the youkai he had attempted to steal from. The shock must have shown on his face because Kuronue chuckled.

"What's your name kid?" Kuronue asked. However, Kurama did not reply. "Where are you from?" Again, no response. "Hm, so now you're mute." Kurama growled, but a small coughing fit followed.

"That will only irritate your throat it will," Kanade scolded lightly as she placed a cup of tea before each man. She subtly thwacked Kuronue upside the head and gave him a scolding look. Kuronue turned an innocent 'what did I do?' look in her direction, one that she didn't buy for a second. He returned his attention to Kurama, who was suddenly very interested in the tea.

'I could have sworn I've seen this boy before,' he thought. He shook his head deciding it was highly unlikely. This kit was just that, a kit. He was small and scrawny; he still had yet to grow into his large ears! The royal guard wouldn't think of taking this little thing in, he didn't look like he could even protect himself! He was still a silver and still had a sense of strategy, Kuronue was determined to figure out just how strategic this boy was. Could he break through codes and dis-able alarms? 'I'll have to wait until he's fully recovered. Grandma would kill me if I tried anything beforehand.' He shuddered at the thought. As much as he loved her and vice versa, she could be a nasty thing when set off. 'Great,' he groaned inwardly. 'More waiting. I hate waiting, yet it seems like that's all I do lately.' He resisted the urge to bang his head on a hard structure.

T.T.O.A.T.

Comments are very much appreciated, questions are welcomed, constructive critisism welcomed, flames ignored.

Yu Yu Hakusho (c) Yoshihiro Togashi