July 31st, 2004

A/N: Hey Minna-san! Guess who's back! I have good news! I didn't have to become a resident of the bottom of a lake! –Though it gave a good fight! First the house threatens to fall in the water, then it almost burns down (we, uh, had a 'small' fire while trying to cook dinner one night .), and then when we were renting a boat to go tubing and water skiing in, and it threatened to dump me overboard! –But I'm back and in one piece! Woot!

Review Responses: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

CrimsomRegret Pours In My Soul: Yea! I'm glad you like this!! You think the A/N are funny?! I love you!! Glomp I am amusing to someone!! Yea!! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Titangirl161: Yes, you do know most of the story. But I FELT like putting a cliffy so there!!! Mwuhahaha!! And I may even put more- but then I'll feel bad...Why would I be annoyed that you reviewed?!?! I like it when you review! I like you! (like to torment...oh did I write that? ) Well, you asked for more, how's this?

Much thanks go to you two! I hope I get two reviews per chapter like I have been getting....OH! For anyone that is remotely interested! Also while on vacation, I tried drawing a picture of Surjo and chibi Youko Kurama. If you want a copy so you can criticize it, leave your e-mail address, or just tell me you want a copy, and I'll send you one!

Well...here's chapter three!

CHAPTER THREE: LONG FORGOTTEN MEMORIES PART TWO

Before Surjo could decide on a course of action, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum advanced. Surjo was tackled to the ground and pinned before he even realized it. Surjo shut his eyes tightly and with all the frustration, it felt like something would explode.
A second later Surjo felt no weight on him, so he opened his eyes and scrambled to his feet. The two goons had been mysteriously thrown off of him.
"[vulgar word] {well, I'm not typing it, it's not my fault if you say dirty words. O.O}, you're going to regret that!"
They closed in on Surjo again when all of a sudden Surjo felt something in his hands. He took a glance and noticed a scythe in each hand. Where did those come from? I don't even know how to use a scythe! (1)
The two were a little leery about charging a kid with two sharp and pointy objects but when they saw an opening, they attacked.
Surjo was surprised when his body moved of it's own accord. Without even knowing what he was doing, he slashed Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The two collapsed to the floor and stayed still.
It was now the boss' turn to be pissed. You could hear utter hate and loathing dripping from his voice when he spoke, "You're going to wish you never existed [you know the drill]" He then flung Kurama away from him, who collided painfully with a tree, and got into a fightig stance. After a brief pause he then launched himself at Surjo, who still believed he had to be possessed in order to be doing what he was. Surjo dodged the assault and countered it with his scythe. The leader rushed again at Surjo, but when Surjo dodged like last time; the leader pulled out three throwing stars and sliced across the chest and stomach. Surjo screamed out in pain.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. On every blasé there is special poison, poison that is going to kill you in the next 15 minutes. During that time, I'm gonna enjoy making you miserable!"
Surjo groaned at his ill fated luck and covered his stomach with his arm. Now how was he going to be beat this freak? And...WAIT A SECOND (I actually thought 'hold on a tick' but that's from Austin Powers...)...POISON?!...15 MINUTES?!...not good. He had to end this quick and hope the poison thing was a bluff- but he already knew it wasn't.

{I'm so sorry everyone, I really can't write fight scenes. In fact, I can't write at all, but I'm still trying with this. Why do I bother? -.-}

The bandit leader drew out three more stars with his other hand. He flung the first three at Surjo, who managed to dodge just in time, and landed in the dirt. He readied his other hand for another attack. He stood poised and ready to throw at the right moment.
Meanwhile, Surjo was already starting to feel the effects of the poison. His vision was blurring, his breathing continued to become shallower, and his muscles were slowly seizing up –they were beginning to refuse to yield to Surjo's commands.
"Ah," said the content thug, "feeling your life slipping away from you? It won't be long now. Then I can take that brat over there to be sold as a pet. Or maybe I'll just keep him for other purposes...decisions, decisions. Don't like it, punk? Well, it's not going to matter in a few minutes anyway." He then sneered at Surjo upon completion of his rambling.
Without warning the other three stars were flung towards him. Very narrowly they missed and plunged deeply into the trunk of a near-by tree. Not meeting the desired result, Boss got even angrier. Having no more stars left, he then charged at the boy.
Surjo didn't have enough time to move, and his muscles were refusing profusely at any form of movement. He tried to prepare himself for the impact and block, but the blow never came. When he opened his eyes –that he didn't even realize that he had closed – the boss was on the ground with a vine wrapped around his ankles.
Kurama lay at the base of the tree he collided against with his hand stretched out in their direction. He was using what energy he had left to control the small vine. His eyes slid in and out of focus and he was panting heavily. "L-l-leave h-him a-a-alone." He said weakly.
"Why you!!" the boss spit out venemously. He spotted one of his stars laying in front of him. He went to throw it at Kurama but before he could reach for it, he found two scythes in his back. He stopped moving.
Surjo took a staggering breath and then called, "Kurama? You okay?"
"I-I'll be fine. What about you Surjo?...Surjo?"
The poison was taking it's toll. He could no longer stand, and fell to the ground. "Surjo! Surjo what'd wrong!?" Kurama screamed as he managed to pick himself off the ground and rush to Surjo's side.
"Poi...poi...poi," Surjo tried to tell Kurama, but his throat wouldn't work past the 1st syllable.
Kurama took in the symptoms and recognized it as Soorsack Poison. "Surjo! You've been poisoned. Just continue to take deep breaths!" He then pulled a seed out of his long, silvery hair and put some ki into it to make it grow. He broke off branches of the bush and let the sap drip into the wounds from the stars. They began to bubble and hiss.
Surjo grounded in pain and his breathing turned dangerously shallow again.
"Surjo I'm sorry, but it's got to be done. Keep taking deep breaths."
After the sap had been administered, Kurama then took some leaves and applied them over the wounds to keep out infection. After Surjo's wounds had been tended to, he plucked some berries from the shrub (for the pain) and told Surjo to eat them.
Surjo managed to get the berries down, then lay still with his eyes closed trying to get some of his strength back. When he opened his eyes, after his rest, he felt much better. It had been a close shave, but thanks to Kurama's abilities, he would be fine. Speaking of Kurama, where did he go?
Surjo found kurama tending to the wounds of the bandits. He picked himself off the ground and walked over.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"They're wounded. They can't do anything to tend to them while they're sleeping."
"I'm not so sure they're going to wake up. Besides, they tried to kill us!!"
"But they're still hurt and need help. Does it matter what they did? And why wouldn't they wake up?" he asked confusedly.
Surjo stood there bewildered at the little fox. He didn't care what a person tried to do, but if they needed help, he would tend to them. This was unheard if in the Makai. Much of what the kit did was not normal. But Kurama was his friend, he would have to make sure he didn't get help from helping others. And the other question...how could he explain to the kit that he probably killed the bandits when the kit didn't even know what death was.
He actually never wanted Kurama to know what death was, never have the blood on his hands like Surjo did now. (dramatic much? :P) Kurama was innocent, he was different. He didn't deserve to end up just like everybody else.
He took a breath and answered, "It could be their time to sleep forever."
Kurama stared at him with wise and horrified eyes. "But we made them sleep! If they never wake up, it's our fault!"
Surjo watched as the tears ran down his friend's face. He had winced rather hard when Kurama said "we," Kurama didn't do anything besides help. He hugged his friend and said,
"Aw, Kurama don't cry. It's probably not as bad as it looks. I'm sure they'll be fine, it wasn't your fault."
(remember, these '' mean time lapses! I don't think I'll remember to say that next time!)
After Kurama finished fixing up the bandit leader, he tried to stand up but collapsed immediately. Surjo instantly became worried.
"Kurama! What's the matter?!"
Surjo rushed over to Kurama and looked him over. He was a real mess. The kit was one big mass of bruises; big, ugly, and discolored bruises. The little fox also had used much of his energy to heal everyone, even the tree. Surjo scooped up the little fox into his arms. "Don't worry Kurama. We'll get you back to the den and have you cleaned up, okay?"
"K...Surjo?"
"Hmmm?"
"What about them?"
"They'll be fine here. Actually, it looks like they're waking up," he half-lied. They would be fine, but would be out for a while and sore once they woke up. In his opinion, they should never rise again for what they tried to do to his friend.
"Surjo?"
"Hmmm?"
"We take care of each other right?"
"Right."
"Does that make us family?"
Surjo looked down at the half asleep fox and smiled. "Yes Kurama, we're family. We're brothers."
"Brothers?" he asked tiredly.
"Yes, brothers. Now get some rest, I'll take care of you."
"Okay Surjo. Goodnight."
"It's the afternoon silly."
"Whatever."
Surjo smiled down at the sleeping kit in his arms, his little brother.

A/N: AWWW!

(1)Hmm...this is probably starting to sound like Kuronue. Let me assure you that any similarities between the two are completely unintentional. –I was TRYING to be original. [hey, I haven't even seen that part of the manga/anime yet. -.-'' so deprived]

(2)If you were confused at the second to last part, refer to ch. 1

(3)Sorry, the last part was my sad attempt at a joke (ch. 2)

(4)Grr. I tried so hard on the last fourth of this chapter, but no matter how many times I rewrote it, it still didn't come out right! Sigh This might actually be a good story if I wasn't the one writing it. -.-

(5)CrimsomRegret Pours In My Soul: sorry, I wasn't up to many random A/N in this chapter. –could be that I'm sleep deprived and my nice sister and mother got me sick.

X.x Wah....sleepy.

(6) I find this is very repetitive and ironic. Mwuhahaha! Behold the horrors of my badly written fic!

Please review now that you read! Any questions, comments, or concerns? Leave them in a review or e-mail me and I will get back to you!
THANKS FOR READING! JA!