Minna, this is my newest Yu Yu Hakusho. I swear, the ideas are just pouring in. Based on the song clip below, I love this song. Read and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own.

She fooled all her friends into thinking she's so strong

But she still sleeps with the light on

And she acts like it's all right on...

...as she smiles again.

-This Is A Call; Thousand Foot Krutch

Chapter One: A Hidden Secret

Footsteps softly echo as they head up the spiral stairs towards the attic. The air is musty, damp. It is giving the person climbing a very bad ache in the back of their throat, as if they want to cough and sneeze but just aren't able to. The ache remains there, all the way up to the attic, past the locked door, and kneeling down before a very ancient chest. It is made of wood--probably rosewood--and is covered in dust. The aching one reaches out a slender hand to wipe all of the dust away and when finished the chest looks beautifully new. Three good quality emeralds are inlaid on the lid of the chest, along with an old family seal. The lid is pushed open, revealing the treasures inside.

A head bows and red hair spills down over a beauty's shoulders, hitting the treasures. Emerald green eyes, much like the jewels on the lid, regard each individual thing with the respect it deserves. Kurama. He is, of course, the Legendary Thief. And what good is being a thief if you cannot keep your treasure? Yes, all that lay before him are articles and items that he had stolen from another. He just couldn't bear to part with his things, so he had to set a memory in his mother's mind, making it seem that she'd bought all these things somewhere. Of course, Kurama could have saved himself the trouble and just his treasures with Hiei but...he didn't find that a suitable answer either.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Hiei when he decided to plant the memory--it was just that Kurama had taken a lot of time and planning to get the things so they are precious to him. They are his pride and joy. How many can look him in the eye and say that they have stolen a multitude of things like he has? One in 1000, most likely. And probably not even that. Yes, Kurama loves his precious treasure trove. These items are his shield, after all. Kurama lifts one of the musty women gowns of long ago to his face, relishing in the fact that it still smells like women's flesh. Warm and rosy...

The kitsune stifles a laugh. If only the other Rekai Tentai members could see him now, here with this dress, holding it. Good god, he'd be the laughingstock of the team. He'd never be able to look anyone in the eye again. He hugs the dress closer. He wouldn't need these things if only he were sure what was in store for him. Because even though most everyone--unless they are a pyschic being--has no idea of what lay in wait for them. But...Kurama rubs his temples vigorously. Most of them at least have an inkling. And what did the kitsune have? Absolutely no clue whatsoever where the evil Mistress Fate was leading him.

Oh well. Nothing he can do at the moment, except try to lighten up. And he has just the thing to do it...

"Hm...it still fits."

Smiling, Kurama turns around before the mirror, admiring the view from the back. The dress from earlier clings to his body, beautifully accenting his feminine curves. Anyone who does not know him would at first think he is a girl if they saw him like this. He takes a brush from his dresser and begins brushing his silky hair out, replacing it in a ponytail. He's still unable to do anything with those wild, messy bangs. Oh well--this look will have to do. Twirling on his feet Kurama glides to the stereo and unceremoniously whacks the 'play' button. Music begins to blast, and Kurama cannot keep still for long. Soon he is dancing.

It's a soft song, and sad. In some ways, it reminds him of her. It is a song that still lingers in your mind even after it has finished. He's always loved this song, even if it does remind him of a part of his past he'd rather forget. Sadly, you can't always forget things.

Playground schoolbell rings...again

Rain clouds come to play...again

Has no one told you she's not breathing

Hello

I am your mind; giving you someone to talk to

Hello...

Light on his feet, Kurama dances his way across the room. A strange scent fills his nose--the scent of nostalgia. Closing his eyes and thinking back, Kurama remembers her. She was so innocent when they first met... She didn't even fear him, though she clearly knew of his reputation. She just held out what she had to give, wanting it to end quickly. A flashing pain sears through him. Why had he dragged it out? He could have been merciful, he could have shown her all the mercy that she had shown to him. A tear slides down the beauty's face as he continues dancing. So many 'could haves' he could have done, should have done, but didn't.

This dress...it is hers. Kurama opens a cautious eye to stare down at the dress. It is black silk with silver trim and white roses at the bottom, dripping with blood. She was called Sanglant S'est Leve--French for bloody rose--because of her terrible past, and doomed future. But she still, in all happiness, lived her life without a black cloud hanging over her head. Did I love her...? Kurama sighs, shaking his head. No, he didn't love her. He was intrigued by her. He merely wanted to see how far she would go for him. What she would do. And, as it played out, she did everything. Any little thing he wanted, she got for him. She was mindless. Or so Kurama had thought.

In actuality, she knew exactly what she was doing. Helping the enemy...aiding him... But he wasn't an enemy to her. Simply a friend. She'd loved his ears, and his tail. She wished that she could have been born a demon, instead of a lowly human thrust into slavery. He only patted her head at this, and told her not to fret. God, her hair had been soft. It was brown, hanging around her shoulders. She had beautiful brown eyes that held deep pools of knowledge within them. Her voice was so sweet...she was obviously an angel sent to him. And he'd killed her.

Don't try to fix me I'm not broken

Hello

I am the lie, living for you so you can hide

Don't cry...

"Yokou what were you thinking?" Kurama muses silently to himself. "You really went to far."

Oh yes, it had been a very bloody death. He'd been found, captured, and dragged to the castle. And he was furious. The only one who knew his whereabouts was her. How could he have not seen it coming! Build up the kitsune's trust, then betray him? She was lower than demons. Lower than humans. She was lower than dirt. Rage had blinded him; he broke free from his chains and set about searching the entire mansion for her. He found her in the garden, tending flowers. And with one quick swipe, it was over. He had sliced her so hard the roses on the other side of the garden had been showered in her blood. He stripped her of her gown and ran, never once looking back.

"Feh...I was quite the foolish kitsune."

The song ends, leaving Kurama in tears. Perhaps...perhaps if he hadn't killed her, he would be with someone today, instead of just mulling around and watching the girls observe him? No. Never. It would never have been allowed to be. Besides, she was doomed an early death. A bloody death. And he had simply provided it. What was her name...? Oh yes. Eunice. (1) Such a terribly human name, but it fit her. But he can not linger on what once was, or he will surely drive himself insane.

Toning down the music a bit and replacing himself at the mirror, he vaguely wonders what Hiei would think if he could see the kitsune in this. Little does he know, he's about to get his wish.

"What the hell are you wearing, fox?"

"H-hiei!" A blushing Kurama spins to face the window. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," Hiei says indifferently, pointing at the dress. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"Oh, this? Just something I found in the attic..."

Kurama smiles widely, hoping it will distract Hiei away from any pain that might be showing on his face. It apparently works, for Hiei drops the subject and demands he get changed. I can't stand to look at him like that... So while Kurama occupies the bathroom, Hiei slips his shoes off and steps inside the room. The scent of roses instantly overpowers him. He's never ready for that. No matter how many times he's been to Kurama's room, the rose smell always gets to him. It's all he can do to not cover his nose and mouth!

"Feh. Stupid fox..."

He takes a seat on the bed just as the bathroom door opens and Kurama reenters, this time in his usual attire. Or something like it at least: silk shirt, nice pants. The whole Kurama deal. Kurama sits, a little nervously, beside the bed. He hasn't been able to calculate Hiei's reasons for visiting, thus he fears that it is going to be something unpleasant. The sixteen year old shifts slightly, ready for the worst. He is surprised when Hiei takes his hand and squeezes it, almost as if he's trying hard not to cry.

"She's going out with the git..."

o0 Kurama has to stifle a laugh as he sees the dejected look on Hiei's face. And the fire demon is still holding his hand. A strange warmth is emenating from it. A sad, sad warmth but a warmth none the less. Actually, Kurama quite likes the feeling and nearly pulls the silent fire demon onto his lap. Nearly. He does actually retain some of his sanity, remembering that this is Hiei he's thinking about, and the gesture really wouldn't be appreciated. Sigh...that is the biggest problem with Hiei. He never understands the simple gestures that Kurama sends out to him.

A shiver runs down the kitsune's spine as Hiei turns his beautiful crimson eyes on him. If those eyes were jewels, they would most definately been in the kitsune's treasure box. He hitches a smile onto his face and pats the koorime's shoulder, telling him that everything will be okay and he can kill Kuwabara if he does anything inappropriate. He ran his fingers lightly through Hiei's hair. A way of telling him that he is there for him. His dress lay on the edge of the bed. He'll have to put it up safely... But for now, it shall have to stay there, forgotten.

I am working on this story with a friend of mine, Calismo, whose username is gaara-no-suna. She writes really funny Yu Yu Hakusho stories, along with the help of the other Destinies. I am putting a piece of her work into this story, the poem called My Love For You. Next chapter to be up when I can write it!

(1) The first of the Destinies' names to appear in this story. They will all appear, for sure.