Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or YYH.

A Thief's Life

8/8/08 – 8/12/08

…Sengoku Jidai – 550 Years in the Past…

The heist had been a success. They had, quite easily, infiltrated the demon's palace and stolen the treasured mirror rumored to hold the power to grant the beholder's deepest wish. Of course, nothing was free, and the wish would (undoubtedly) come at a hefty price. However, it was a price that neither of them planned to pay.

More than the treasure or wish itself, they had stolen the mirror to make a name for themselves as thieves, the easiest and quickest way to attain power and wealth. Even though they were already well-known figures throughout the land, they weren't the only thieves around. To gain power and respect, they had to achieve what other thieves could not. They had to be constantly five steps ahead of them.

"They've sent the hounds after us."

They ran swiftly, easily dodging the guards after them – his partner half a step behind him. At that moment, he felt invincible, as if nothing could go wrong. Yet, even as the thought was passing his mind, everything suddenly came crashing to a halt as his partner skidded to a stop, turning sharply back for the necklace that had broken from his neck.

"Kuronue, no!" he heard someone scream before he realized the cry had been wrung from his own voice.

Bamboo rained down from above.

Kuronue screamed as the bamboo pierced through his body.

There was no time to think. Turning, he sprinted towards his partner. He didn't know why he cared so much, but he couldn't…he just couldn't…

"No!"

Youko stopped, a mixture of confusion and pain warring across his face. What was he saying? He was going to die!

"Go! Forget about me! Go!"

Time seemed to still as he stared at his friend. W-What…?

"GO!"

The desperation in his partner's cry snapped him out of his quandary. With a last look, ignoring the almost physical pain in his heart, he quickly turned and fled – finding it to be the most painful thing he had done in his life.

Unbidden, he felt his eyes moisten, but he refused to look back again…

This was the life they had chosen.


The pendant dangled from his fingers.

He had no doubt that he would die here. Even if he didn't bleed to death from the wounds, the guards would find him soon enough. It was sad, really. To be brought down by a trap where battles, conspiracies, and assassinations had failed…

It was pitiful.

Folding his fingers over the pendant, he closed his eyes and resigned himself to the inevitable. Yet, despite the darker than grim situation, he found himself smiling and taking comfort in the knowledge that his partner had, at least, gotten safely away with the treasure.

The treasure…

It was a pity that he wouldn't be able to see the old dog's face for himself when he realized that even though the traps had caught him, the mirror would forever be lost and beyond his reach.

He laughed out loud then, wondering if he finally snapped and gone insane. If Youko could see him now… He shook his head. Youko… For a moment, he had feared the stupid fox was going to completely disregard his warnings to stay back. If had tried to save him…if he had stayed…Was that it? Was that the problem? Had he secretly hoped that, despite his protests, he would have stayed?

Yes. Yes he had.

But, he also knew that if Youko had stayed, he would have been caught too. The bamboos pierced through his body contained spells meant to seal a demon's youki and movement. Even though he had no doubt that Youko would have found a way to break the sealing spells given time, time was something they didn't have. The guards would have caught them long before he figured out how to break the seal. So, in that sense, he was relieved that he had, for once, listened to him.

Yet, he couldn't shake off the slight feeling of…hurt? Despite what he had said, had he hoped that he would have stayed?

He wasn't sure.

Shaking his head, Kuronue laughed again. What was he doing? He was thinking entirely too much for a demon who was about to die. Even now, he could see the guards' approach.

Though a little unsatisfying, this was –

Kuronue squinted, trying to block out the sudden onslaught of light. What kind of cosmic joke was this? He had heard of humans – mostly priests or priestesses – seeing the 'light' on their deathbed. But this? This was ridiculous! He was a demon…and not a very nice one at that.

The light receded, making him wonder if he had died…or gone blind. But then, he heard the cry of a little human girl and he was sure he had gone straight to hell. Cracking open a dark eye, he stared at the young child sprawled on the ground less than three feet away from him.

What in the world…?

The little girl lifted her head, giving him a good look at her tear-stained, cherubic face. It sickened him to know that some humans could look so…angelic. Then again, was she human at all? She had, after all, appeared in a mass of blue light.

"W-Where am I?" she asked, looking curiously around, appearing as confused as he felt. Then, her eyes locked on him and she gasped.

Humans, Kuronue tiredly sneered, they were all the same. He smirked, allowing her to see his fangs. He expected her to scream and run away like the others of her kind. But then, she surprised him by closing the distance between them and asking a question that had him questioning again if she was entirely human: "A-Are you hurt?"

"Get away from here." he rasped, surprising himself. Was he actually trying to save her? A human? Closing his eyes, he decided that would be the one good deed in his life. Somehow, he found himself musing; doing a good deed didn't feel as good as some people made it out to be.

He cracked open an eye. To his irritation, the girl was still there. Absently, he wondered if the girl even knew that she was in danger of being caught by demon guards. Though, even if he had wanted to warn her again (not that he had the intention), he found that he was too tired to speak.

He slowly closed his eye again, unable to keep it open. He never really cared about human lives anyway – innocent or not. If she was too dumb to heed a warning, she deserved to…

His eyes snapped open when he felt a cool hand against his cheek. What did the girl think she was doing? He wasn't sure if he was more shocked that the girl had stayed or if she had touched him.

"Go!" he hissed, knowing that it was only seconds before the guards caught them both. But, to his shock again, the little girl resolutely shook her head and reached for the bamboos pierced through his body. "It's useless –"

"I-I'm not going!" she sniffled, cutting him off as she closed her tiny fists around the bamboo with both hands. "I won't!" With a cry, she tugged as hard as she could. To his surprise, the bamboo disintegrated under her touch. He watched her work, too tired to be surprised, but to curious to look away.

Just as the last bamboo disintegrated under her touch, she slumped forward in a dead faint. He didn't have time to contemplate his action. Even as he cursed her foolish, human kindness, he picked her up and ran. He didn't know why he bothered. Maybe he had gone insane. Under normal circumstances (even if he had been fully fit), he would have left her behind. After all, he had no qualms about biting the hand that fed him.

But now, here was his chance to escape and he was using what little strength to save a human? Deciding to save the deep thinking for later, he pushed himself forward, ignoring the agony that each step brought.


Kagome awoke with a splitting headache. It reminded her of the time she had split open her head after falling out of the family 'Boku tree. She winced at the memory. That had really hurt! But, she smiled; her grandpa had patched her up!

However, as soon as she remembered her grandpa, her bottom lip trembled. This time, she understood, there wouldn't be a grandpa to nurse her back to health. A mixture of tears and snot slid down chin as she recalled her grandpa's murder. She had hoped the memory had been a nightmare! Like that time… that time she had dreamed that grandpa had flushed Buyo down the toilet!

Inhaling deeply, swallowing the snot that slithered down her throat, she scrunched her nose when she smelled the strong, metallic scent of blood. Opening her eyes, feeling as if they had been glued shut, she stared confusedly at the bleeding arm draped over her shoulders.

W-Wha…?

Controlling her fear, she quickly slipped under the arm and scooted back. She stared at the strangely dressed, but surprisingly good-looking man with confusion. Why did he seem so familiar?

Oh!

She remembered now! He had been trapped by magic sticks that disappeared when she touched them! Fear eased at the knowledge that she wouldn't be harmed, she moved back towards the man and gently prodded him in the cheek, hoping that he would awaken. However, to her growing worry, he didn't even twitch.

Biting her lip, she stood and tried to roll him onto his back. That was when she finally noticed the pair of wings attached to his shoulders. Curious, she went around and tugged at the wings, wondering if it was detachable.

It didn't budge.

Eye lighting with wonderment, she giggled with excitement. She had found an angel! Maybe…maybe the angel could bring her grandpa back! Redoubling her efforts to awaken the angel-winged man, she remembered that her grandpa had washed and dressed her wounds in bandages when she had been hurt!

Standing again, she looked around for some water and cloth. Not seeing any, she looked a little farther. Without realizing it, she began wandering farther and farther away. By the time she found enough water, she had already walked more than half a mile away from her original place.

Cupping the icy, pond water in her hands, she stood. At her sudden movement, the water sloshed out of her hands. Undeterred, she cupped some more water and stood at a slower pace – careful to keep the water in her hands. However, she had only taken two steps when the water completely drained through her fingers.

Frowning, she went back and tried again. However, no matter what she did, she always ended with the same results. The farthest she had gone was half-way before the water completely disappeared. Glaring at the pond as if it was purposefully eluding her attempts to save the black angel, she decided that she would try again later – after she drank something.

Cupping the water again, she brought some to her lips, enjoying the cool water as it sloshed down her parched throat.

That was it!

Bringing the water to her mouth again, she held the cold liquid in her mouth as she hurriedly raced back. Tired, but happy it had worked, she allowed the water to dribble out of her mouth and onto one of the angry wounds on the man's body. Then, using the edge of her skirt, she tried to clean the wound to the best of her ability.

Satisfied, she quickly ran back to the pond and repeated the process several times. By the time she had treated all the wounds she could find, both her skirt and the sleeve of her shirt was dyed a deep, dark red. Exhausted, she plopped onto the ground beside him. As she rested for a moment, watching him from tired, half-lidded eyes, she heard him ask for water.

Ignoring the protests of her own body, she quickly ran back to the pond again. Bringing the water he asked for, she rolled him onto his back. Then, hovering over his face, she tried her best to let the water dribble from her lips to his.

Just as the last drip left her mouth, splattering against his cheek, his eyes opened, revealing a beautiful set of indigo-blue eyes. Enraptured, Kagome smiled with a mixture of relief and joy. He was okay…he was going to be…

Without warning, she burst into tears.

She had been so scared!

If Kuronue had been confused to see a little girl hovering above his face, it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when the same little human suddenly burst into tears for no apparent reason.

What in the world had he done to deserve this?

Couldn't he even die in peace?


Author's Notes: Well, I have to admit that trying to figure out how to fit everything into a logical timeline is harder than I thought – especially since some sources say that Youko is supposed to be over 3000 years old. And that is…old. So, we'll forget all that and just say he's around 450. :P Oh, and he has not met Yomi yet.

None of this is important though – just me rambling. Also, I'll be keeping the chapters short so I can update more often. :) Hope you enjoyed!