muie5: Here is the second chapter of this new story.

Yusuke: You are completely insane, aren't you?

Kuwabara: Leave her alone. He won't hurt you any more, muie5.

muie5: Eww! Get away from me. Where's Keiko? She's supposed to help me here.

Yusuke: I think she's down stairs in the kitchen cleaning up Youko's mess.

muie5: Oh, yeah! The little mishap in the kitchen.

Hiei: muie5 doesn't own Yu Yu Hakusho cause if she did...

muie5: Hiei and Youko would belong to me and... -starts daydreaming about if I did own Yu Yu Hakusho-

Hiei: But since you never will-under breath: Thank heavens.- it doesn't matter.

Recap:

When Youko stood back up he felt the young girl shivering yet he continued to walk back to his hideout.

"The legendary bandit: Youko Kurama. I have found you," came a male's voice.

Youko stopped and looked to his left to find a man with dark green hair wearing a brown outfit holding a rifle in his right hand. Youko ignored him and continued to walk with the young girl still cradled in his left arm. Youko's ears perked up a bit as the hunter pulled back on the trigger.

Chapter 2: Your Name

At the last second Youko jumped into a tree to avoid the Spirit World bullet. The hunter looked up at him with a smug smile as Youko looked down at him with a bit of annoyance. The young girl looked down at the man attacking her savior.

"Don't you dare walk away from me," ordered the hunter.

Youko put the girl down on the branch of the tree before jumping to the ground. The hunter looked up at the girl before dodging a rose whip attack. The hunter shot his gun again. Youko swiftly moved out of the way and slashed his rose whip. He caught the dodging hunter's left ankle causing the hunter to land flat on his face. Youko started to walk over to the hunter as the hunter turned onto his back. Once Youko was standing above him the hunter gave Youko another smug smile. He lifted up his gun and pointed it right at Youko's face.

"Die!" yelled the hunter as he pulled the trigger.

Youko moved just in time to miss the bullet. The hunter grinned as he watched the bullet fly though the air and straight for the tree where the young girl was standing. Youko noticed the hunter's grin and turned to see what was causing it.

"Get down!" Youko ordered, running towards the tree.

The girl watched the bullet with horror as it headed straight for her, unable to move. She shut her eyes and turned her head as she waited for her end to come. A second later she felt a warm, wet substance hit her face. She opened her eyes skittishly and turned her head to see her handsome, silver haired savior huddled over her using his own body as a shield.

"Are you okay?" Youko asked, looking at the shaking young girl in front of him.

She nodded very slightly as she notice a bloody hole his chest.

"Good," he stated.

Youko stood up and turned around to face the hunter. He pulled out another rose from his hair and held onto it tightly as he looked at the hunter. His anger subsided as he jumped to the ground. The hunter was now back on his feet by this time. Youko quickly wrapped the whip around the hunter's abdomen and with one graceful tug the hunter was torn in two.

The young girl turned from the bloody sight of the dead bounty hunter. Youko looked up at her as he transformed his whip back into a rose. He placed the rose back in his hair as he landed on the branch. Youko held out his right hand to the young girl. She started to back up a bit, not wanting to take his hand after seeing what he did. Youko looked into her eyes as she did the same to him, but she continued to back up till she fell off the branch. He jumped to the ground swiftly just in time to catch her in his arms.

"You are safe. Let us go," he reassured her as he started towards the hideout once more.

After a few minutes of walking, Youko started to slow down in his pace. The girl noticed this and looked up at him wondering what was happening this time. The first thing she noticed was that he started to sweat a bit. So she put her hands on his chest to get his attention. It worked and Youko looked down at her. What he got was a frown that held a very concerned expression behind it.

"That's fine," Youko confirmed, sitting under a tree nearby.

The girl snuggled even more into his arms as she shut her eyes. In minutes she was fast asleep. Youko watched the young sleeping girl in his arms when suddenly she started to shiver as a gust of cold wind brushed over the two. Youko placed her on the ground before he transformed into his fox form. He positioned himself beside her so his body was a soft pillow for the girl's head and then covered her with his tails. He laid his paw on the girl's hand before falling into a shallow sleep.

After several hours, Youko heard a twig snap and lifted his head immediately. He looked around but saw nothing. When he was about to put his head back down he saw the girl's eyes open and looking at him.

"May," she whisper in a low, sweet voice.

Youko cocked his head to the right. She kept her head on his body and just looked at him.

"My name is May Hana," she cooed.

Youko transformed back into his human-like form. He smiled at her and kept her covered with his tail even though he was laying on his right side. She snuggled up to his chest and looked up at him.

"Well, May Hana. My name is Youko Kurama," Youko introduced himself with a sly tone.

"You were correct. I never got to know my parents. My tribe exiled me when I was one. I've been through many families, but each one of them abandoned me. Everywhere I go I cause bad things to happen. All these attacks are my fault. I'm sorry I'm such a burden," she confessed, lowering her head.

Youko wrapped his arms around her small body. He placed his head on the ground and closed his eyes. She turned onto her other side so she was facing him.

"None of this is your fault. Get some sleep," Youko ordered.

May smiled at him and snuggled up next to him. Moments later, May was fast asleep. Youko opened his eyes and watched the beautiful May sleep peacefully.

"No one will harm you again. You'll never have to look for another home. You'll never feel like this pain you feel is your fault," Youko thought, closing his eyes.

Both Youko and May were fast asleep with May in Youko's protective arms.

Back at the hideout the sun started to peak over the horizon. The bandits were gathered outside of the gates of the hideout, talking and complaining.

"Yomi, Youko never returned last night," informed one of the demons.

"What should we do?" asked another.

"Continue with the heist," Yomi state with a bit of arrogance hanging in his voice.

"Find Youko," Kuronue stated at the exact same time as Yomi.

"Youko would want this heist to continue even without him," Yomi stated.

"If Youko isn't here than something must have happened to him," Kuronue pointed out.

"He can take care of himself."

"We should still go find him."

"If we don't leave now we won't get another chance at this."

"What's more important: Youko or some stupid heist?"

"What are you all doing standing around? We have a heist to get to," came a cold voice.

Out of the trees came Youko, cradling a sleeping May.

"I thought you were getting rid of that little thing," hissed one of the demons.

"Don't question me," Youko interrupted very coldly.

"Youko, we have to get going," Kuronue commented, getting Youko's mind back onto the task at hand.

Youko laid May on the ground outside of the hideout before he led his bandits into the forest. After a few minutes, May woke up and rubbed her eyes. She looked around before sitting up. The sun made the clouds a pink, orange, and purple.

"Youko?" May whispered very softly.

No answer came to the sweet voice that called out in the emptiness of the morning. May got to her feet and turned to the huge log gates. She walked over to them, and sat with her back against the gates. She brought her knees up to her chest before looking out at the trees of the forest that surrounded her.

Five hours passed since the little May was left alone. The sun was now up in the sky making the birds chirp a happy tone. Everything was strangely calm.

"Youko, where are you?" May thought sadly as she lifted her head from her knees.

"What a great catch!" came a male's voice.

"Yeah! These have to be worth millions," agreed another.

May's ears perked up as the voices came closer. A smile came across her face when Youko came out of the trees. His bandits followed, each carrying an arm full of gold and silver objects. Youko noticed May sitting up against the gates. The others did not seem as excited to still have the brat there. May stood up as Youko walked over to her.

"How was your nap?" Youko whispered to her.

"Fine. Where did you go?" she asked sweetly.

"Don't worry about that. Let us go inside now," Youko suggested quietly.

He picked May up in his arms. The other bandits opened the gates and were walking in. Youko followed them in with the gates closing behind him. May looked around in awe. Inside was like a village. There were many huts and dirt roads. In the first few moments May noticed something that was a bit out of place.

"Youko, where are all the woman and children?" May asked.

"You are the only female and child. You are the first female to ever see this place. We do not allow woman to enter," Youko explained.

"Why?"

"They are too distracting."

May's ears lowered when he said that. She did not want to be a pest or 'distracting' to her savior. Youko noticed May's ears lower.

"May, this is your new home. You will learn how to fight and become a great thief. You won't be abandoned again," Youko promised.

They stopped in front of a huge dojo type building. Kuronue was waiting there as the other bandits walked around the small village. Yomi was standing next to Kuronue waiting as well.

"Kuronue, show May to her room," Youko ordered.

"You're not really considering letting her stay here, are you?" Yomi asked, lifting his hands up in protest.

"She'll get in the way," Kuronue added.

"Show May to her room," Youko ordered once again but more coldly this time.

"Yes, Youko," Kuronue gave up with a sigh.

Youko placed May on the wooden porch. Kuronue started to walk into the dojo with another soft sigh. Yomi gave May a disgusted look as she walked passed him and into the dojo.

Kuronue stopped at a white sliding door in the main hall. He slid it open and turned to May. May looked passed Kuronue and into the room. It had a window directly across the room from the door with a mat placed underneath it on the wooden floor. Other than that the room was completely bare.

"It don't know why Youko has taken a liking to you, but watch your step around here. Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of having a weak child as part of the bandits. Let alone a girl. The moment Youko finds you a nuisance is the moment you die," Kuronue explained before walking away.

Almost five years had passed since May first become part of the bandit family. Most of the bandits warmed up to her, though some still resented her. She started to open up more as her training went on. No one dared mess with her after what happened to the first bandit who tried to hurt May on her first night there. Youko held up to his promise and kept on protecting her secretly.

With each passing day, May become more and more attached to the demon that saved her from the darkness. Things kept attacking the bandits, but Youko never threw May out even though she kept insisting it was all because of her.

"Youko! Youko!" yelled an older May as she ran down the main hall of the dojo.

The demons that were in the hall at that moment moved out of the way quickly before they were knocked down. May skidded to a stop at a huge pair of white sliding doors. She slid them both open quickly and without hesitation.

"Youko!" May yelled again.

Youko looked at her from where he sat on the other side of the room. The other demon that sat in front of him looked over his shoulder.

This demon had pure black eyes, blond hair that come down to his shoulders, and he wore white and black pants with no shirt. He was very muscular and a bit scary looking. His two arms had sharp blades coming out of his skin. There were six blades on each arm.

"May!" a demon growled angrily, gabbing her left arm.

The demon pushed her out of the way of the sliding doors. He bowed to the two before sliding the doors closed. After he shut the doors, he turned to May. She just looked at him a bit upset.

"You know better than to just barge into Youko's room like that! One of these days you'll get killed for not listening like you do now!" the demon stated.

May opened her mouth to retort but stopped before a sound exited. She remembered what Youko told her.

The first night May stayed a demon crept into her room. He pulled her up by her small neck. She looked into her attacker's eyes as fear started to take over.

"I knew at least one of my men couldn't help himself. I told you that no one is to harm this young girl," Youko declared coldly from where he stood in the doorway.

The bandit dropped May and turned to Youko. Youko threw a seed into the bandit's upper left part of his chest. He watched as the bandit's body went up in blood and flowers. The bandit fell to the floor as dead as dead could be.

May got to her feet and quickly ran over to Youko. She grabbed onto his pant leg while placing her head on his right leg. He looked down at her with a serious expression and then bent down to May's level.

"Your training starts tomorrow," Youko simply stated.

May looked into Youko's eyes. She saw something in his eyes for the first time. She saw worry behind a shroud of uncaring…unfeeling darkness.

"I won't always be around to protect you like I just did. You need to watch your back. Not all the bandits will accept you. If an opening to get rid of you shows itself, they will take it. You have to be strong around here. Don't be cocky. Watch what you say and do," Youko explained.

The demon watched May shut her mouth and turn her head from him. He turned from her as well and walked down the hall. May sat on the wooden floor outside of Youko's room. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapped her cat tail around her legs, and put her head on her knees.

A few hours passed before one of the doors slid open. The new demon walked out of the room. May looked up at him while he looked down at her. He smirked at her before walking down the hall to the outside. Youko came out and stood next to May. She stared at him as he stood there with his arms crossed and watching the demon head towards the gate.

"We need to talk," Youko explained quiet enough for only May to hear him.

May and Youko walked around the village. They have been walking for several minutes but not a single word had been spoken. There was a sense of dread hanging over the two. May was about to say something but Youko beat her to it.

"You know not to barge in like that. I've told you that," Youko stated calmly.

"I know. I'm sorry, Youko," May apologized, lowering her head.

Youko looked at her. He noticed how much she had grown. Her hair was getting long and her white bandit's outfit showed off her developing body.

"Where have you been all morning?" Youko asked, lighting his tone of voice.

"I went to visit…umm…I was just training," May quickly answered.

"You don't need to lie. I think living for over 900 years makes me old enough to handle anything."

"I really was training."

"But you also went to see Kuronue, didn't you?"

May looked up at Youko, but he did not return the glance. May's eyes become firry when she saw that Youko's eyes never faltered at the mention of Kuronue's name.

"Someone has to! Neither you nor anyone else seems to care! Even though he hated me in the beginning he helped you train me! He protected me, and stuck up for me when you were gone!" May argued firmly.

"May, showing your feelings so openly is a weakness. It clouds your judgment too much," Youko stated.

"Youko–"

"May, tomorrow we'll go see Kuronue together."

What little anger May had started to grow into a smile. She jumped in front of him and start to walk backwards. Youko watched her as she kept talking.

"Youko, I learned a new trick. I can control water," May stated happily.

"Really?" Youko asked, calmly.

"Yep! I've been watering Kuronue's flowers with it."

"May, you know not to go out of the hideout. Someone might follow you back."

"I'm not a little, dumb, useless, weak child anymore. I'm older and stronger! Not to mention smarter, too."

Just as she got done saying that she fell onto her back. She grabbed onto the back of her head and cradled it. Youko stopped and looked down at her.

"I can tell that you are not weak anymore, but you are still a klutz," Youko stated.

"You act all cool, but I know you're not. I bet I could show you're not as calm as you always act," May thought.

May lied there without moving while Youko kept looking down at her. May held her breath so her chest would stop moving up and down. Youko bent down and picked May up bridal style.

"May, I'm not stupid. If you truly want to go onto the next life then tell me. I'll send you there myself," Youko informed her without thinking.

May opened her sad, glossy eyes. Youko then realized what he had said. May turned her head from him and did a back flip out of his arms.

"May, how would you feel if we take the day off?" Youko asked.

"Really!" May asked happily.

"Youko! Youko!" yelled a demon, running over to them.

"What is it?" Youko asked coldly.

"We got word about a great treasure," blurted a light blue-headed demon.

"Then let us map it out," Youko started, turning his full attention to the bandit.

May lowered her head and ears while turning her back to the two. With one last glance back at Youko, she walked away. Youko watched May walk back to the dojo as the bandit started to give him the details of this new discovery.

"He never promised to always have time for me," May told herself, sliding her door shut.

A knock was heard on May's door as soon as she sat on her window seal. Another one came as soon as no answer was heard from within. May just let her legs hang out the window as she watched the sun start to go down.

She heard the door slid open and some footsteps after that. The door slid shut and then silence. May did not turn around to see who it was. Youko stood behind her, also watching the sun start to set.

"May–"

"It is okay, Youko. You are busy. I get it," May interrupted him.

"Early in the morning we are going to go see Kuronue. That is one promise I won't break," Youko pledged, looking at her.

"You swear on your life?"

"I promise on my life, and on the life of the one dearest to me."

May smiled at him before turning her attention back to the sunset. Youko started to walk back towards the door.

"Youko, you won't ever leave me, will you?" May asked, turning around on the window seal.

"Of course, I won't," he answered.

"Thank you."

Youko saw the innocent smile shine in the light of the sunset. The wind blew through the window and played with May's beautiful, colorful hair.

"I have something for you," Youko confessed, sliding the door open.

"Really? What is it?" May asked, getting off the seal.

"You'll have to wait till tomorrow morning."

"That's not fair!"

"Never said it would be."

Youko slid the door close as May started to get ready to go to bed. Youko walked to the room next to hers and slid open one of the doors.

A few minutes before the sun started to rise May slid open her door quietly and tiptoed over to Youko's room. She slid open the door quietly and walked in silently. She walked over to the sleeping kitsune with all the stealth she had learned over the years. She got ready to jump on him when the moment her feet left the floor Youko sat up. May got caught in Youko's arms within seconds.

"You cheated, Youko," May hissed in a harsh whisper.

"You should not have snuck up on a fox," Youko whispered.

"Are you ready to go?"

"This early?"

"You did not give a time."

Youko got to his feet with May still in his arms. May smiled at him as he walked over to his open window. He put his right foot on the window seal and with one graceful push they were out the window.

"Why didn't you take the door?" May asked.

"Easier this way," Youko answered, running through the forest.

Within minutes they were in a clearing surrounded by a very thick area of trees. Youko put May down. As soon as her feet hit the ground, May ran over to a small boulder with Youko walking behind her. There in front of them were multicolored wild flowers. May knelt before the rock and pulled out some weeds that grew among the flowers.

"Good morning, Kuronue. I hope you slept well. I brought Youko with me today," May greeted, sitting on her heels while looking at the rock.

"Kuronue," Youko thought sadly.

Youko and May stayed quiet for several minutes. The sun started to come up as they sat in the stillness of the morning. May looked back at Youko to see his eyes blank…void of any emotion.

"Youko, do you want to see my new skill?" May asked, turning all the way around to him.

Youko looked down at her with the same blank look. May got to her feet as he snapped back into reality. May smiled at him with that innocent smile. She had never seen that look in his eyes and it scared her.

"Sure," he answered.

May walked over to a small spring, bent down, and took a handful of water. She turned to Youko and showed the water in her hand to him. Youko watched on as she froze the water.

"How did you know you could do this?" Youko asked.

"I found out a few days ago. I've been coming here every day to sharpen this new skill. I can freeze the water and make it move while still a liquid," May explained, dropping the frozen water.

Youko watched as it turned into liquid once again. May walked over to his side happily. He put his left hand on her head and ruffled her hair.

"That's great. Are you ready for your gift?" Youko asked.

"Yeah!" May yelled with a jump.

Youko knelt on his right knee and pulled something out of his pocket. He held it in his fist while May anxiously waited for him to give her the gift.

"This is very special to me so take care of it," Youko explained.

"Okay! Okay! What is it?" May asked, excitedly.

Youko opened his fist. May's eyes glittered with awe. There in Youko's palm was a diamond ponytail holder. On it was a beautiful ruby flower.

"It's beautiful!" May exclaimed.

"I've noticed that on heists your hair gets in your way. This should help with that problem," Youko explained, putting May's mid-back length hair back with the ponytail holder.

May walked over to the water and looked at the gift in the reflection. Youko smiled to himself as he watched May touch the ponytail holder gently, as if it would break if she put too much pressure on it. She whirled around to Youko with a content expression.

"He's smiling. For the first time, he's actually smiling," May thought.

Just as May started to walk back over to Youko, a shout rang out.