Maya sighed as she plopped down in her seat at her school desk. Her friend, Akina, leaned back in her seat to talk to her. "So, Maya, how'd your summer vacation go?"

Maya laughed and slammed her head against the desk. Akina raised a blonde brow.

"That bad, eh?"

"That barely covers it..." she huffed. Akina laughed.

"I heard you got a new cat." Akina mentioned. Maya sighed and lifted her head up.

"Her name's Meina."

Maya Kitajima. Age: 18. Maya is a young woman with six sense. Maya lives with a demon two tailed cat, a nekonata named Meina. Maya recently remembered that her childhood crush, Shuichii Minamino AKA Kurama, was a demon. He was trying to capture her cat, Meina, but Maya struck a bargain-either leave her and Meina alone, or she would reveal to Kurama's family about his demon heiritage. She's been left unsure of her feelings for Kurama.

"Alright, class!" boomed the home room teacher as he walked in. "Welcome back to your second semester here. Pretty soon your lives as high school students will be over-at the end of this year, you'll be official graduates. Some of you'll be going to college-if you pass the entrance exams. As teachers here, we are willing to help you with preparing to take the tests-not to mention the end of the year exams you'll be taking."

The class groaned. Maya sighed and rested her head against the desk.

---------------

Maya groaned and opened the door to the roof. She let the door slam shut and she slid down the wall to the floor. "Wotta day, and it's only lunch."

She sighed and reached into her bag to get her lunch and yelped. She yanked open the bag to have Meina poke her head out. "Mew!" cooed the cat up to her mistress.

"Meina!" gasped Maya in surprise. "What are you doing in there!"

The cat meowed and hopped out of the bag. Maya sighed.

"Ohh, doesn't matter anyway." she huffed and got her lunch out. Meina meowed again and waited to get a snack from the lunch bag. She sighed and ate until the bell rang. She opened up the bag, Meina jumped in, and Maya hurried to class.

She huffed as she ran through the halls, heading to class until a loud ping of the PA system as it turned on sounded and she stopped.

"All students, please report to the auditorium at this time. All students, please report to the auditorium at this time."

Maya's jaw dropped. "...ah..."

Her home room, to be specific, was on the opposite side of the school; to put Meina back in the home room and run to the auditorium before being late would take a miracle.

She yelped and began to dash her home room. Standing outside the room she saw her friends Akina and Sada waiting with annoyed expressions on their faces. "Maya!" shouted Sada as she approached. "Where've you been! Everyone's already left for the auditorium already!"

"I know, I know," huffed Maya as she slung the bag around her desk. "Just gotta put away my bag. Okay, let's hurry!" she yelped as she and her friends raced down the halls. Meina waited a moment then popped her head out of the bag and stared after her master. She jumped out of the bag and landed quietly on the floor. Sitting down to bathe herself, Meina stopped and perked up. Rotating her ears back and forth, she let out a long hiss.

---------------

Uptil one week ago, Kurama was not really content, but had accepted the knowledge that Maya had no recollection of him.

That was until one week ago, Maya had called him Shuichii and had threatened him of "telling his mother on him".

Now, he was left very confused and slightly wary. Maya had explictedly said to stay away from her and Meina, the demon nekonata, and of course, he had accepted it with more grace than he had suspected of himself. He had seemed ready enough to let this human girl slip away from him forever.

...well, seeming ready and being ready are two very different things.

He had felt oddly detached from the world, well more so than usual, and confused. He shoved the problem-what ever it was-to the back of his mind and had decided to try and forget about the whole thing.

Well, forgetting had become a whole lot harder than he imagined, especially with that cat jumping on him, hissing and spraying spit. "Yow!" he yelped as it dug it's claws deep into his shoulder and wondered if Meina had gone insane. He was at his school, walking through the hallways to go back class after being excused to use the bathroom when this cat had shot out from around the corner-he hardly had the time to turn around when she had latched on, obviously he had underestimated it's speed-and began making such a racket.

"Ow, let go, ow!" Particularly deep clawing on his shoulder, that's going to leave a mark. "Ow, ow, Meina, listen to me!" People had begun to stick their heads out their classroom doors to look at him. He gave them a nervous grin, reached up and yanked the cat away from his clothes-she took a large scrap of cloth from his back in her back paws.

"Shuichii, is that your cat?" asked one of the students. He managed to laugh, if not nervously.

"Um, no, no, just a stray-I'll be sticking him outside now." and with that he used all his will power not to run, and walked out of the building. "You-" the cat hissed at him violently as he talked, "-had better have a good explanation for jumping on me and scratching me like that."

Meina stopped jerking about and began meow her answer at him at a fast pace. He raised his brows-his nekonata was a little rusty but he'd have to make due. He listened carefully trying to pick out what she was saying. Unfortunately he only really understood three words: "Maya" "school"(or the round about word for school) and "trouble".

He nearly dropped the cat in shock. "Repeat that!"

Meina gave him a long look that told him she thought he was an idiot. She meowed again this time very slowly. The message was the same.

---------------

Maya and her friends huffed as they reached the auditorium. "Maya, now were really late!" hissed Sada as she peaked through the windows of the auditorium doors. "I'm going to try to sneak in..."

Maya and Akina watched as she quietly opened the door and squeezed through the sizable gap. She let the door shut silently and moved to sit by others in their class. Akina moved forward and repeated her friend's actions.

Curious, Maya stood up and peaked through the windows again. The school administrators were there with the staff standing at the front on a stage; the principal began to speak.

"Welcome back, students!" Polite applause. "We the staff are here today to wish you all good luck with your studies-" More polite applause. "-and to give you a very special message."

Maya raised a brow; what message would be so special that they couldn't just announce it over the P.A. system or in a letter? She waited for the principal to talk again.

"Students of Sakuramoto High School-"

Suddenly, Akina screamed and fainted in her seat. Everyone jumped up. Maya opened her mouth in horror and threw open the door with a bang. "AKINA!" she shouted as she rushed to her friend's side. Akina slumped back pale and unconscious. Sada whimpered.

"Maya, oh, Maya, what's wrong with her!"

The principal continued. "-prepare to DIE!"

Maya looked back to the principal and her eyes widened in terror as several long tentacles sprouted to his back. More screams, and more people fell unconscious. Maya grabbed Akina's arm and tugged at Sada. "WE'VE GOT TO GO!"

"What about Akina!"

"We'll bring her-c'mon!"

---------------

Kurama followed Meina as she sprinted ahead of him. She gave a sharp turn and slipped through metal bars of gate, she stopped and turned her head back to watch as he leapt over the bars. She gave a look that he read as "show off" and ran straight to the building, curbed away from the doors and leapt through an open window on the first floor. Kurama sighed-jumping through the window would be a tight fit. He gripped the frame and carefully slipped through.

Inside he found himself in what looked like the teacher's lounge. Meina waited for him to get fully inside before turning back and running to the door. She scratched impatiently at the door as he followed her. Before he could open it, she had pulled it open a crack and slipped out. With a sigh, he tossed the door open and took off at a run following her.

---------------

Maya clutched one of Akina's arms while Sada pulled the other. They tugged their unconicious friend through the halls, running for the exits. Panting, they gulped deep breathes and reached a stair well. "C'mon, Sada...just a little farther...one more stairwell...and then...we're home-oof!-free!"

"You said that-ooh, ouch!-two stairwells ago!" she joked. Maya rolled her eyes.

"Oh, great time for humor, Sada!" she snapped.

"Meeeeeeeeooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..."

Maya jumped. Sada blinked.

"Maya? What is it?"

Maya blinked and turned back. In the distance, she heard a loud meow again. "...Meina?"

The lights in the building flickered and died. Sada whimpered and Maya tried to hush her. Down the dark hallways two pricks of lights glowed-like lamp light on a cat's eyes. "Meina!"

"Meeeeeooooowww..."

"Meina!" she gasped and nearly let go of Akina.

"Maya!" gasped Sada bending down with Akina's slack body weight falling more on her. "Maya, I can't care her by myself-let's go!"

"Meina!" whispered Maya, ignoring Sada. "Meina, c'mon, we're lea-"

"MaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

"MAYA!" screamed Sada and tugged Akina forward.

"-ving..." gasped Maya. She turned around and hurriedly began dragging her friends behind. "RUN!" Behind her, she heard a whistling noise shot above her head and the window in front of them shattered. They both shrieked. Sada lost her footing and all three of them tumbled half way down the stairs to the next landing. Sada gasped as her head thumped hard against the floor and she lost consciousness. Maya gasped in pain and stared at her swelling ankle. By her side, Akina groaned and stilled.

High above them, nearing the stairwell, Maya saw several long tentacles slithering to the stairs. She whimpered as a sluggish mass slunk up at the steps-it was a disgusting smelling creature-demon, demon, demon, chided her mind-that reeked of swamps and dried blood. It had too many eyes and a large parted sucking gash for a mouth.

"Oh...god." she whispered. She wished quickly not for her demon cat, her sweet little protector, but for a hero she knew wasn't coming because he couldn't come and wouldn't know until far too late if he ever knew at all.

So that made her delusional, because wasn't that him right in front of her now?

She gaped a minute and mental smacked herself, and yelped as she felt Meina licking her abused ankle. She looked down at her and back up at Kurama and sucked in her breath. "Oh..."

"Maya."

She blinked and gaped up at him. "Uh-yes?"

"Are you okay?" he asked and she was nearly giddy because he was asking if she was okay, not if all three of them, and ...oh, wait, she nearly forgot to answer him!

"Yeah! I hurt my ankle in the fall but it's Sada and Akina I'm worried about!" He nodded and turned back to the demon. "...how'd you know to come?"

"You..." he grinned wryly, "can blame that cat of yours."

"Oh." she murmured looking down at the cat, who sat on her haunches, looking rather proud of herself and waving her tail back and forth. She looked back up and noticed that a rather nice chunk of the back of his jacket is gone. "...ahh, I can pay for that...or at least try and fix it."

"Don't worry, Maya." he said lifting a hand to his hair. In a flash of demonic energy a long, thorny whip appeared in his hand. He kept his eyes trained on his enemy. "I'll this all taken care of. You may want to close your eyes..."

She nodded though he couldn't see it and clutched her eyes shut. A sickening noise, flesh tearing no doubt, seeped into her ears and the monster gave one last shriek before giving into death. She blinked and looked back up at him. He turned and tucked his whip which glowed and shrank into something-she didn't get a clear look-back into his hair. "Maya."

"Ah-yes?" she murmured.

"Can you walk?"

"I don't-" she looked down at her ankle-the bruises were gone as was the swelling. "Oh!" She remembered Meina licking her ankle... She turned to the cat and blinked. "Did you?"

"Miya!" she meowed proudly and jumped to her shoulders. Maya shrugged and stood up-her foot held and she remained upright. She smiled and nodded.

"I'll be fine!" she assured him, bouncing of the balls of her feet. Meina mewled in protest and jumped down. Maya blinked and looked at Sada and Akina. "What should we do for them?" she asked bending down and resting her hand on Akina's forehead. Kurama bent down and grabbed Sada's arm and hefted her up.

"We'll carry them outside." he explained. Maya nodded.

"Okay!" she said pulling Akina up. Meina mewled and bounded ahead, eager to lead the way out.

---------------

Maya groaned as she pulled Akina along. At her side, Kurama tugged Sada as they both followed Meina. The cat walked lightly ahead of them, tails twisting and twinging about. She tapped out a tattoo with her paws, her claws tapping a rhythm out as she walked along. The cat mewed suddenly and ran ahead. Kurama blinked and Maya's eyes shined eagerly.

"Saw the exit, Meina? Good girl! Now just stay there and wait." she grunted as she hurried. Meina mewed prancing about and scratching eagerly at the door. With a groan, Maya leaned against the door let it pop open. She leaned against holding it open for Kurama as he tried to slid by. Several students that stood outside the building called out to Maya.

"Maya!"

"Oh my goodness! Maya! Sada! Akina!"

"Oh no, look at them!"

Several students ran over and pulled Sada and Akina from her and Kurama's grasp. Maya sighed and sagged against the door frame. She blinked and turned to Kurama; he had turned back to the doors and was heading back inside. "Kurama...?" she whispered.

He stopped and looked back at her. "I'm heading back inside-I'll stop the other demons." He dug into his pocket and withdrew Yusuke's communication mirror from inside. "I'll be calling for some of my friends, so no need to worry."

She blinked and pulled herself away from the wall. "I'll come too-"

"No."

She blinked-well, that sound kinda harsh. He must have thought so too because his expression softened. "I'll be fine for now-and you could only get in my way with your fatigue. It would be better for both of us if you remained here."

She stood there, feeling sore and tired and oddly jilted. She nodded and sighed. "Alright-be careful; the school's bigger than you think-try not to get lost or snuck up on." He nodded and turned back and entered the building.

---------------

Maya rested quietly, her arms wrapped around her knees, nearly nodding off in a doze as she sat on her bed. Meina mewwed quietly and rested against her hip. After paramedics had arrived on the scene, the entire school populace seemed to be under the impression that their principal was actually a cracked weirdo who had staged the entire thing. She hadn't understood-till she saw Kurama's blue haired friend sitting on an oar along with several others on oars and she could only guessed they had modified everyone's memory. A paramedic had examined her quickly and to her indignation sent her home-she insisted she remain at the school saying a friend was still inside but the medic had been firm and sent her home.

Taptap.

Maya blinked and looked at her window. Sitting on an oar outside her window, the blue haired girl from before waved at her to open the window. Maya blinked slowly then reached over and unlatched the lock and pulled it open. "Ah...yes?"

"Hello!" cheered the girl. "I was sent to tell you that everything's alright-your friends, fellow students, and even the faculty are alright."

Maya released her breath in a big whoosh and placed a hand to heart and smiled up at her. "Really? Everyone's alright?"

Botan blinked and pressed a finger to her lips. "Yes, everyone, but the poor principal's had some rather nasty bumps to the head. He's fine too, but were going to have to modify everyone's memory later-can't have him mobbed for something he didn't do! But, ah...well, I have got to tell you that you aren't going to be attending school for a while."

Maya blinked. "Why?"

"Oh!" giggled Botan. "Because Yusuke got a little ahead of himself and put a hole in the roof!" Maya's jaw dropped and she couldn't help but laugh. After she had calmed down, Botan waved to her and had begun to leave when Maya stopped her.

"Hey, wait!"

"Yes?" answered Botan bemused.

"What's your name?"

"Oh, it's Botan!" she laughed.

Maya nodded. "Alright, Botan, I'm going to ask you a question-why were you guys after Meina?" Maya watched as Botan stilled then steered her oar back closer to her window.

"Well, Maya, to be entirely truthful, it was for your own good." she answered.

Maya blinked in surprise. "My own good? Taking Meina away is for my own good?"

Botan sighed. "Yes, you see, Meina's been drawing demons to her-she's been getting rid of them but it would only be a matter of time before one too big for her to stop would have come and you both would have been in big trouble."

"Oh..."

Botan perked up quickly. "Since I told you this, are you willing to let us take Meina back to where she belongs?"

Maya blinked then peered back to Meina-she sat on her haunches, tails wrapped around her feet, ears perked and eyes trained on her, waiting for her answer. Maya smiled at Meina. "Nope. She isn't a pet, she's my friend. And if she wants to stay here, she can stay as long as she wants!" she exclaimed with fiery conviction in her eyes and her fist upraised.

Meina didn't seem to care that Maya's speech had caused a pleased gleam in Botan's eye-all she cared about was what Maya said. With a loud meow, she sailed through the air and alighted on Maya's shoulders. Maya yelped in surprise as Meina began to rub herself against Maya's neck, her two tails tickling Maya's chin.

"Woah! Hee, I guess I said the right thing, huh?" she laughed to Botan, who nodded and waved.

"Yes, you certainly did-now I must be going! I have something important to tell my superior." she said before disappearing on her oar into the night.

---------------

"Alright, Botan, ready?" piped Hinageshi at her elbow. Botan nodded, mouth to dry to speak. Ayame on her other side patted her arm.

"Botan, remember what we talked about and it will be fine." Botan nodded again. Ayame nodded to Hinageshi who opened the door to Koenma's office and stepped inside with Ayame giving Botan a gentle push. Botan sucked in a deep breath and walked up to Koenma's desk.

Behind his desk, Koenma raised a brow at them-eager Botan hardly ever asked for support from the other ferry girls when she had to report to him. He gave them a skeptical look. "Something wrong, girls?"

"Lord Koenma, sir..." Botan trailed off before continuing on, nearly blurting out her words. "I would like to make a request on behave of Maya Kitajima remaining the nekonata, Meina's caretaker henceforth!"

Koenma sat for a minute blinking confusedly. "Botan...repeat that please."

"I ...want Maya to keep Meina!"

"...why?" dead panned Koenma.

"For one, our research on nekonatas is really limited-and nekonata and human interactions even more so!" Good thing she had had Amaye coach her through this. "It would benefit us greatly to be able to keep an account on such."

Koenma placed a hand to his temple and rubbed it. "Botan, Ayame help you with this, didn't she?"

"...ah..."

"Fine, forget the question." Koenma looked and stared into her eyes. "Why do you want Maya to keep Meina?"

"...because it would be wrong to separate!" she shouted fervently shocking the three other occupants in the room. "I mean, they understand each other, and take care of each other, and they're friends, and it...is still wrong to take them away from each other!"

Koenma sat there staring at her before huffing, and grabbing a pile of papers and shuffling them. "As it happens, I've already made my decision on the nekonata case involving Miss Kitajima."

Botan froze. "You...did?"

"Yes." he said decisively and busied himself with the papers for a moment, ignoring and infuriating her. "...the nekonata Meina is to remain in Maya Kitajima's custody and the Spirit World will be making a study on them to help expand our records on nekonatas...which will now include human interaction with humans, as per your suggestion...anything to report, Botan?"

Botan stood there a moment then shrieked with joy and clutched Hinageshi's hands in an improtu victory dance. Koenma's eye twitched and he sighed. So much for appreciation from this bunch!