THE DRAGONSOOTHERS REBORN

Ch. 1: A New Generation Is Born

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Yu-Hakusho at all… So, don't sue me. All you'll get is about five bucks. Anyway, if you want to use the Dragonsoothers, Taka, Kayonou, Kayomie, the Dragonslayers, or anything that I have made up in this story, please ask me first or put a disclaimer on them. Thank you!

A young vixen kitsune held her baby girl in her arms, staring absently at the hills of forest before her. Normally, she would have enjoyed a breathtaking scene like this, but her mind was occupied with troubles for her kit and a young fox she had grown up with. Another fox demon, this one male, came up behind her and gently gripped her arm.

"Kayonou, what is it?" Kayonou turned to him, her creamy white hair flaring behind her in the movement.

"Oh, Taka, it's you. You startled me."

"What worries you, my mate?" he asked softly. The kitsune's dark brown hair was smoothed over his head and shaded his sapphire blue eyes. His matching ears stuck roguishly from his hair. He wore a dark brown tunic with loosely fitted blue pants that matched his eyes, similarly colored slippers covered his feet as another pair were on his mate's as well. A tattoo-like bite mark was on his neck where it met his shoulder.

"It's nothing, Taka, I swear," Kayonou replied, her amber eyes curving as she smiled. Her creamy, snowy white hair flowed becomingly along her tan shoulders and back. Her white ears swiveled slightly and her tail curved around her legs. She wore all white, save for her blue slippers. A tank top and loosely fitted pants also graced her body. Another tattoo-like bite mark graced her neck in the same area her mate's did.

"Now, why do you lie to me, Kayonou? I know you. If it worries you, it is something important. What is it?" Taka softly demanded as he turned her to face him. He followed her gaze to their sleeping kit.

The baby girl's snowy fox ears drooped in slumber. Her white hair was curly, like her father's when he didn't smooth it over, her skin the same tan as her mother's. His eyes softened as he stroked the little one's cheek lightly.

"It's about Yoko, isn't' it, love?"

"Yes. As usual, Taka, you are right. I worry about him, as he never truly found one who could love him and help him reach his true potential as one of his bloodline," the vixen replied, following his gaze. "If only little Kayomie were older, I know she could help him."

"Kayonou, Yoko (I hope I've been spelling this right… Let me know if I haven't.) may be beyond help at his age. He has chosen his path as you have yours. We both know he will never stray from his path of thievery."

"I know, my love, but I do not wish to see one of my own cavemates killed, like he will be if he doesn't sway from this," Kayonou said, turning from him and resting her kit against her shoulder.

Taka followed her and pulled her close to him. "Your heart is still as tender as a kit's flesh, Kayonou. If there ever comes a time when we can send our baby to help him, I swear I will send her. However, I fear the time will never come…"

Spirit energy blasts startled the couple. Kayonou's amber eyes snapped open with alarm as she ran a few step in that direction. "No," she whispered.

Her baby's wail came from her shoulder. "Oh, little one, hush. Shh… It's all right. Mommy's here, don't cry," she murmured as she rocked her kit. Kayomie's beautiful sapphire gaze opened, tears streaming her face as she whimpered. "Oh, Taka, she knows… Yoko…"

The young vixen met her mate's eyes, pleading silently. His gaze softened. "All right. But I go, too." Kayonou smiled in relief and kissed him happily.

"Thank you."

Both demons turned and darted to where the sounds had come from. Yoko had hidden himself behind a large oak tree, his canine form bleeding profusely when the small family arrived.

"Oh, Yoko…" Kayonou said, putting her baby on the ground beside the fox as she held his head in her lap. "I warned you many times, didn't I?"

The silver fox weakly opened his amber eyes to see his cavemates and their kit before him. "Taka… Kayonou…" he winced slightly as he spoke. "You came…"

"Of course we did," Taka said as he reverted to his own dark fox form along with his mate and their young. "Why wouldn't we, leader? We worried."

"Yoko, please, don't die on me…" Kayonou whispered softly, her eyes wet.

"I… won't… I'll… be in Ningenkai… regaining my strength. Taka, please take my place as leader of the pack. Without Kurounoe, (again, if I screwed up the spelling let me know!) I can… only trust you… my friend."

"I will, my friend, I swear," Taka promised as he nuzzled Yoko's nose.

"Kayonou…"

"Yes, Yoko?"

"I'm sorry for not listening to you… May… I see your kit… before I go?" The white kitsune's eyes softened at the request, the liquid amber threatening to spill over.

"Of course." The vixen lifted the baby kit and put her near Yoko's face. The little thing weakly wobbled to between his paws before barking softly and collapsing on them. Yoko's gaze brightened slightly.

"You'll be a beautiful vixen when you get bigger, little one… Strong… like your folks… Do them proud…" The little kit yipped and licked his nose as she batted at it playfully.

"She likes you…" Kayonou said softly.

"You had better go… Before the hunters return… and assume you for part of the thieving pack…"

"We'll miss you. Please return soon," Taka whispered softly.

"I… make no promises… Now go!"

Both foxes turned and ran, the vixen holding her kit tightly in her teeth by the nape of her neck. Once they were out of range, they returned to their human-like forms. Kayonou released her baby's clothing so she could hold her in her arms.

"Taka, now is our chance! If we could disguise Kayomie completely as a human girl where Yoko could find her, maybe she could help him!"

"Who would take care of her, Kayonou! And besides, we can't do this to our only kit!"

"We must, Taka. She may be Yoko's only hope of turning things around for himself!"

"We can't risk it! She's our daughter and the last of both of our bloodlines as Yoko is of his!" Taka growled angrily in return, his eyes burning in a fearsome anger to most except Yoko and his mate. Kayonou's burned as well, but with something else.

"You promised me that we would send her to help Yoko, Taka! A Dragonsoother never goes back on their word. I love Kayomie as much as you do, but a mother knows when to let a child go. She would never be happy hiding away in a cave, or not truly, and her dragon would never find her or hatch if she isn't where she can enjoy life and make her own decisions. Living like this would cause her more harm than good, Taka, I just know it… Please," the vixen begged.

Taka's gaze softened slightly and he sighed. "All right, but only after a year in the Ningenkai has passed, understood?"

"Yes. It will give me time to make the preparations to help her hide among the humans…"

The two kitsunes carefully slipped through the quiet houses, a baby in the vixen's arms. The couple wore cloaks with hoods to hide their tails and ears should someone see them. To all outside appearances, the baby was human, but if one were able to remove the small mark on the back of her neck, they would find out else wise.

Kayonou held her close, her creamy white hair mingling with the matching shade of her child's. Her grip on Taka's hand tightened slightly. "Taka, are you sure?"

A small red dragon fluttered with a blue one just ahead of the pair. The Dragonslayers wouldn't be able to tell, Kayonou, now hush, the crimson female whispered in the telepathic link the Dragonsoothers shared with all dragons, along with their own.

"She is right… and I will remind you that this was your decision," Taka whispered in reply as they paused behind a white rosebush. Kayonou released Taka's hand and gently tucked her kit's blanket with a clown stitched on it a little tighter around her. The little one would only sleep for an hour longer until she would begin to cry for food.

He watched his mate with sorrowful eyes, knowing how she was feeling. "Here's the note, Kayonou. We'll be there in a couple of minutes… She'll be fine. She's a fighter, like you," he said comfortingly as he passed her the pin and note. She smiled softly at him.

The crimson dragon nosed the small pendant with a small white stone around the baby's neck. Besides, her dragon will protect her, even you know that. This one will be extremely strong and will help Yoko find his own.

"I hope so, Kurai. This is why I'm doing this," Kayonou said as the quartet began moving again.

The blue dragon nipped the female's red ear softly. You worry too much, dear.

You don't at all, Sorer. Someone in this group must.

Sorer chuckled. True…

"Hush. We're here," Taka whispered as he stopped by a bunch of daylilies in bloom. After tucking one into Kayomie's blanket, the parents silently slipped to the front porch. As she laid her only child on the welcome mat, Kayonou's gaze filled with tears.

"Behave yourself, dear one. You'll earn a great honor for yourself if you manage to help my old friend. I'll miss you," she murmured before kissing the baby's forehead. A small tear hit the baby's face before the couple left.

After a few minutes, the baby began to wail in hunger, attracting the woman of the house. She opened the door to find the little one.

"Oh, who are you, little one?" the woman asked softly, her blond hair shading the baby as she picked her up. She silently read the note. "'Kayomie', huh? What a pretty name. I'll take good care of you. You'll be a fine Dragonslayer when you get bigger. You're strong already," she cooed as she closed the door.

Yusuke: Okay… Anyway, the next episode will have me, Keiko, and Kuwabara in it, so don't worry, loyal fans! Anyway, hopefully a little bit more will be explained about this Kayomie chick.

Katie(me!): It will!

Yusuke: Yikes! Who the hell are you?

Katie: The author, who else, Yusuke? Name's Katie. Nice to meetcha. I'll pick up while Yusuke gets over his shock. Plenty more will be revealed… Once I think it up and tweak it a little. If anyone wants to be a beta-reader for me, please let me know. I'm going to need help and, while I appreciate my pals doing this, I would like to know what other people think… Let me know!

Yusuke: The next chapter will be called A Mystery Revealed… Sayonara!