Balshumet: Hello… So this story takes place about 1,000 years before Yuesuke and the gang arrives on the scene. It's kind of a prequel to my next stories so people don't feel like they missed something. You know like when you read a sequel without first reading the original and you're all lost and stuff. So read and review.


A Fairy Tale

Two men ran silently and through the forest undergrowth. Clutching a bejeweled item in his arms, the farther ahead of two men moved the foliage out of the way directly in front of them, only to close the opening to slow their pursuers.

"How much longer do you think they will follow us?" the one further back asked in a deep rumble of a whisper.

"Don't know," the first said, gasping for breath, "We've been running for six hours, you'd think they'd be tired by now."

"Well I'm not tired, so why should they be tired?" the second man responded.

"Your lungs are twice the size of mine and I've been doing all the moving of those plants." Just then the two rushed through another opening, temporarily lighting their figures, only to have it once again disappear behind them.

"You know it's harder for me to run than it is to fly, so why are you complaining again?" the second and now obviously larger of the two countered.

"All I'm saying is that you'd think they would just-" Smaller of the two stopped short in movement as a cliff suddenly materialized out of the brush in front of him.

"Okay so we're out of the forest, any bright ideas?" the smaller spoke with a smile. Taking the hint, the taller of the two backed away from the edge and back into the forest. The smaller man followed and a long silence permeated the area. Suddenly, the pair burst out of the woods and over the cliff. After a few seconds of freefall, the taller extended a pair of large deep black wings and soared off well away from their pursuers' reach.

"Now why didn't we do this in the first place? It's so much easier than running," the smaller said smugly.

"Maybe for you, you're not the one doing all the work," the taller breathed in a low growl.

"Well, you were the one complaining about running. I thought you would be happy for the change," the shorter replied.

"I would be if you weren't so heavy," the taller replied playfully.

"Come on, enough time has passed already. If we don't get back to the lair soon the others will start worrying." the shorter said, abruptly ending their banter.

"Yoko, when has that ever been a concern to you?" the taller said to his silver haired friend."

"Well never but Jaka's cooking dinner, and I love his… well whatever he makes. Besides, Kuronue, after all that running and complaining you'd think you'd be hungry."

Kuronue let out hearty, deep laugh. "Yoko, you know I'm always hungry," the two continued on in silence before landing in a clearing in a valley the cliff was facing.

"Alright, we're here. So do you mind getting off me?"

"Oh, but Kuro, you haven't given me a piggy back ride in so long and my feet are tired from all that running," Yoko said while clutching Kuronue's back tightly.

"Get off…" Kuronue growled while shoving Yoko to the ground. Yoko landed a few feet away; farther than he could have been thrown. He cast a playful look in his friend's direction before stepping forward in front of a glen. He . With a sort of bow, Yoko offered to let Kuronue enter first. Kuronue rushed forward quickly followed by Yoko. The pair walked forward into a group of demons. The laughter and talking stopped when the pair entered the clearing.

"Hey guys, welcome back. What took ya' so long?" Everyone turned and faced Jakarda.

"We ran into some trouble on the way back. It's too bad they can't fly." Yoko spoke while walking in his partner in crime's direction.

"What are you talking about you can't fly either!" Kuronue yelled in his direction while rubbing his back. Yoko flashed a smile back at him and sat on a rock near the fire.

"So what's for dinner Jaka?" Jaka smiled in return.

"I thought you'd be more interested in availing us of your recent exploits during the last few months.

"Oh, well, since you insist…" Yoko started while Kuronue took a seat next to him. Yoko began an exaggerated and fanciful story of the last few months of his life with special embellishments for the heist that just took place. The demons laughed and took it in good stride knowing he was purposefully exaggerating for their amusement.

"Alright, enough about the present. We were having a conversation about why . Kuro, why don't you continue with the story?" Jaka offered to get the spotlight off of Yoko.

"Yes, well, I don't quite remember where I was so I suppose I'll have to start from the beginning." Kuronue glanced around the fire, and seeing no objections began again. "It was a dark and stormy night. The kind that makes you bunker down away from the gloom, the ones that all good myths start with…"


Balshumet: I'm not the fondest of this introduction chapter, but it's the best I have for the moment. I've re-worked it a couple times, but it won't get any better. In any case, the main story is much better in my opinion. Feel free to R&R.