Suffice to say, I dove to the side and went into a roll. The whip smacking the ground and rearing back with a screech of metal on stone as Scales yanked it back. My eyes roved his body, spotting the ring of keys at his hip. I half spread my wings in preparation, staying low to the ground in a defensive stance as I hissed at the lizard demon. The demon smiled, his yellow eyes glittering as he came closer, shaking the chains in his other hand as enticing me to give up.
"Come on now, you're a pretty little batty. I promise I won't beat you if you come quietly." He said, his tail flicking back and forth. I hesitated, pretending I was considering his offer as I edged closer.
"Really? You won't beat me, sir?" I said, pitching my voice low so I sounded young and naïve. Scales smirked, nodding his head as his forked tongue flicked out of his mouth. I offered him what I hoped was a shaky smile, as I half rose from my crouch on the floor as I came closer.
When I was only a three feet away, Scales lunged for me. I slid smoothly to the side, noting my epic Michael Jackson impersonation as I snatched the keys from his belt. Scales crashed into the cell I had just escaped, the door flying open as he sprawled on the ground. Seeing my chance, I grabbed the whip, kicked his legs out of the way, and slammed the door shut. Quickly sticking one of the keys into the lock and sufficiently imprisoning him with a small click. Scales glared, rage apparent in his beady little lizard eyes as he began to yell obscenities and threats.
Without any time to waste I started jamming the same key into each lock and turning it. I guess Lady Luck had noted my good deed in her little red book, because the key worked for each and every lock. Scales had begun to holler, but the bird demon said something in a weird language and waved a clawed hand at him, and suddenly nothing could be heard from the slave owner. Even though he visibly was making a lot of noise, scraping his claws against the metal, and banging on the walls I couldn't even hear a whisper. Not even the slap of his leather boots on the stone. I offered the bird demon a truly nervous smile, raising my hands in a non-threatening gesture.
"Hey, I startled you earlier, but you an me, we're cool, right? My main...feather?" I offered, figuring I couldn't use slang with him. Beaky offered me what I thought was a smile, which is quite hard to do with a beak, and nodded his head in assent as he quickly hurried after the other demons. I guess he and I are cool.
"He's a healing mage, but you can't tell just by looking at him." said the green demon from earlier, nodding to me as he stepped out from his jail cell. He did a hand signal to another demon whom I'd released before him, and he replied with a similar one before disappearing around a corner.
"You didn't trick me into releasing a bunch of bandits, did you?" I asked suspiciously, sense very few of the cells were packed up. Usually when I had visited or shopped at such establishments the slaves were shoved in. Never mind the cells had only been designed for three people at most, but somehow slave owners managed to make them fit ten.
"Nah, we weren't exactly the richest village around. We managed to get the women and children out before they captured us. Guess now we'll all just have to go to the neighboring village or the wood, set up a new life again." The green demon said, and I had to admit a part me felt a bit sorry for him. I remembered a lives had been ruined because of such greed, me being a victim of one of them more than a few times. I'd been a slave, escaped, captured, and forced to do all sorts of vile things which would makes your mother's hair curl if she ever knew.
"Good luck to you, then. After this I'm off. Know where I can get some food?" I asked him. Having released the last demon, he insisted on staying with me until everyone else was out. Thankfully, they all knew where the exit was. I assumed he had to be the chief since all the others appeared to listen to him.
"Hm, not unless you want the shit they call soup they used to feed us. You could search around, they might have some decent food somewhere. But you're on your own if you do that. Tell you what, you come with us and I'll see to it you get lodging and all you can eat for a month." He said, watching me with hopeful eyes. This guy wanted me to go with him? I raised my eyebrows at him, unsure of where he was going with this. I suppose he thought I could repeat my cute trick of falling from the ceiling again.
"Sorry, mate, I've worked with groups and I never liked it. Give me enough money to buy a meal and drink it'll be even between us." I told him, and the other demon nodded, letting out a heavy sigh of disappointment.
I know it was probably the stupidest thing I ever could have done. In my defense however I do have to say I meant it when I felt uncomfortable working in a group. While I do believe the demon would was good on his word about the food and lodging, at what cause would he being doing it? He probably had a family who needed him and no home to go back to, everything of worth most likely stolen. No, it would be better if I struck out on my own. I had a bad leg, but I could manage well enough if I didn't overexert myself.
I bade the green demon a farewell, who turned out his name was Aki. Aki did give me, with three others and much beating up of Scales, a pouch full of coppers, silver, and even two gold coins. I gave them the two gold coins to help rebuild, hoping whatever god or goddess of luck made a note of selfishness.
It is true Youko Kurama is the King of Thieves. I've heard the legends, been told how beautiful and deadly he is. Yes, at one point Youko did as a matter of fact wish to be one of the legendary kings of Makai. A S class demon, the one youkai to rival them all.
I agree he's smart, intelligent in fact since he seems to be able know what you do before you do it. Ruthless? Oh yes, I've seen him easily kill people without batting an eyelash. Take his passions out on a rival simply because it amused him do so. What I won't agree with is this King of Thieve has a heart. No, I won't believe it. Why? It's wrong.
Don't take me for a fool, before Youko became what he is I loved him. Oh, how I loved him! I still do, but at the same time I hate him. No, hate isn't right. I despise his actions, I can't stand the way he coolly removes rivals with a twitch of his finger. No, what I HATE about the damn silver kitsune is his words.
He can tell you he loves you, cares for you even but unfortunately you're no longer needed. Your ways of thinking are old fashioned and you have to move on. There is no honor among thieves, so get over it. Such values have been forgotten since the great days of King Raizen. I grind my teeth just thinking about it. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The first time I ever met Youko Kurama, really, truly met him was at the edge of a small village. During that time I had mastered being a thief, and had my own legends forming in my hey day. Unfortunately, I was actually nothing more than a common thief. A half starved bat demon trying to scrape enough food together to survive till the next day. I had come across the village and just raided the pantry of one of the demon's who had the misfortune to have his house placed right next to the forest. All I had gotten was a bag of rice, a small bit of dried fish, and a basket of dried fruit.
I devoured the fish and one of the fruits, being sure to drink plenty of water from the local well to complete the illusion I was full. I hadn't ventured far from the village when I heard the pounding of feet and chanting. I raised my head, completely alert as my eyes scanned the trees for the threat. To my horror I saw a mob marching right down the middle of the only road in the village towards a large house set on a hilltop.
At first, I didn't know they were going towards the house. I was only a few yards away from it and thought the villagers were after me. I ran for cover, but I didn't go far since I hoped to steal from one more house. Usually I didn't take anything from poor villages, the ones where the only living they can make is from whatever they can grow from the ground. But these were desperate times, and the owner of the house I had stolen from was an old man who had died in his sleep when I got there.
I watched, fascinated as the mob of half starved youkai marched right up to doorstep and pounded on the door. I didn't see if anyone answered the door, but I do remember the villagers storming into the once rich house. I heard crashes and screams from inside, the flickering of torches as the villager's shadows danced upon the walls as they stole everything of worth from the residence. It only lasted a few minutes, but pretty soon the villagers came out of the house.
Marching in silence with grim faces as they bore two adult bodies out, wrapped in bloody sheets as they made their way to a shrine I had seen earlier in the day.
Ah, now I understood. They were silver foxes.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know it's bad to beg, but I was really hoping I would have gotten a few reviews by now! Perhaps my summary is somewhat misleading? It is my belief if a story has worth reading than people will read it! Though, I supposed since Yu Yu Hakusho is a bit of an old anime not many people read the manga/watch the anime anymore, neh? Still, if you do happen to come across my story please review so I know it's worth pursuing!
