This one has a time skip in it, but its written into it, so be careful not to get confused, okay? Enjoy!

I don't own YYH.

Zizzy woke up mid-May. It was an awkward meeting, when I first saw her again. Rather, it was awkward for her. I had been in the Spirit World Records at least once a week for awhile now, looking at anything that interested me. They had yet to detect me. I was only allowed limited access to the blueprints of the building, however; I still needed a few more updates to get there.

Of course, I had done all my research on Bear demons during the time she slept.

Like how she could control electricity. Just like how some foxes had plants and some tigers had fire, it wasn't hard to realize she was one of the few that could control the element given to their breed.

She did say that her name came from the last sound her enemies made.

I also learned a few other things, like when they hibernate and their diet. Omnivorous, believe it or not.

Zizzy had spent the first day she had woken up with Ryo. It was like night and day, the ways she treated us. Me, I knew I disturbed her. Scared her, probably. She kept her distance, and never engaged in conversation outside of what was completely necessary.

She adored Ryo though. The shadow demon was almost like an older sister to her. She would bounce around, smiling and laughing and cracking jokes; acting like a child around Ryo.

Odd, but not completely unwelcome.

Ryo needed a friend outside of me. I wouldn't go as far as calling Zizzy her friend, but they were allies in a sense. It was cute, the way Zizzy hopped around her; her little ears and tiny tail twitching.

It was hilarious the way the treated me. Keeping me at a distance like I was the dangerous one. I was pretty sure she even shivered when I threw a smirk at her one time.

Of course, the wary look on her face when she walked into the kitchen that morning nearly placed another cocky smirk on my lips. I was able to hide it by sipping my lemonade.

"Up a little early aren't you? It's only eight." Her voice drifted as she went to the fridge, scavenging for food. She had eaten most of it yesterday.

"Actually, I was hoping to catch you before Ryo was fully aware that you're awake." She stiffened, drawing an orange juice carton out for the fridge and placing it on the counter before going for a glass. "You see, I have a few questions for you."

"And they would be so important Ryo mustn't be the one to ask?" She questioned as she poured the orange juice, replacing the cap and sticking it back in the fridge.

"Not really. I just know she doesn't care enough to ask. And why have someone else do what you can for yourself? Laziness doesn't get you anywhere in this world."

Zizzy nodded as she came and sat on the other end of the table. Far enough away to bolt if necessary, I noticed. "Ask."

"How did you get here?" She stared at her orange juice, swirling it in its cup a bit before taking a sip.

"My brother teamed up with someone I didn't like, so I left."

I nodded, sipping from my own drink before continuing, "And who is your brother?"

At this she hesitated, and her grip on the glass tightened. "My brothers are the Toguro brothers. I'm not related by birth, of course. But they took me in when no one else would."

"Ah…" I looked to my lemonade before setting it down on the table. "Like Ryo and I. I'm assuming these are the same Toguro brothers that have been winning the Dark Tournament?"

Her eyes widened before narrowing, "Just how much do you know, human?"

My emotionless gaze met hers in an instant, "More than you could ever imagine, demon."

She 'tch'ed, finishing her orange juice and standing up quickly. "Since you can't die, I don't think you'd mind letting Ryo participate this year? With me and my team?"

I raised an eyebrow before shrugging. It wasn't a bad deal, but it was too soon. She needed more energy. I needed more training. "You're not participating with your brother?"

"Not this year or any other ever again. I wish to test my strength against them, and that won't happen when all I can get from them is a friendly spar every once in awhile. It happens in mid-winter, so I'd need someone who doesn't die easily to wake me up mid-hibernation. So do you refuse?"

Now that she put it that way… mid-winter didn't sound so bad. I'd have plenty of time to buff up. I'd also heard the prize for winning was well worth it.

"We'll talk about it."

She hesitated, but nodded slowly before walking out of the room, leaving me to hardly make it to my own room at my own house before blacking out.

"No."

"Yes."

"You're not ready."

"Practice makes perfect."

"Not happening. It's way too dangerous."

"We can't die, it's not like we're putting ourselves in danger."

"Not this year. That's final."

"Since when do you own this body?"

"Ya won't survive without me."

"But I can't die."

"Fine. Ya won't win without me."

"Why not?"

"We can get my body other ways. There's that dirt up in the Reikai."

"How do you suggest we get there? For that matter, how would we even get to the Makai?"

Ryo huffed, shoving her arms across her chest, "You're the genius. You find a way."

I sighed, massaging my temples. This argument had been going on for at least the last hour. It was starting to grate on my nerves. "Next year? How about next year's?"

"No. Two years after that."

"Seriously?"

"Ya need time. Ya still haven't even killed somebody yet, Toshiko. That's all there is there. Death, demons, and gambling. Ya have to kill to survive. Ya ain't got it in ya yet. Wait for the right time. Ya shouldn't rush into things. Some people can do that, but ya ain't one of 'em."

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I threw my other hand up in surrender. That damn demon made too much sense for my taste. I liked my pawns better than this overbearing queen. "Alright. You win. Three years. Three years and we'll compete. I'll be what… fifteen?"

"Just turned."

"Fine. You're telling Zizzy though."

"Fine by me. She doesn't like ya anyways."

Ryo spent the day with Zizzy again. Whenever we weren't with Gouki or at one of my practices, we were with her.

I didn't mind the girl; she was just a little too distant for my liking.

So naturally, the longer she stayed, the more the spare room became 'her' room. When it finally came time to leave, she promised to be back for next winter. And she was, and for the one after that, too.

Nowadays, it seemed like my life was busier than ever.

If I wasn't hacking, I was at practices. When I wasn't at practices, I was in the park or in my playroom practicing anything from my music to my karate.

When I wasn't out, ryo was. Whether it was hunting with Gouki or dancing to the latest beat on the radio, we were starting to become closer. Her powers were coming back, too. Which was okay, soon enough I'd have unlimited access to the blueprints, then we'd take the Dirt and head for the Makai then she'd have her own body back and I'd finally get my dreams.

They were what I missed the most about having one soul.

The dreams. Dreams of flowers or scents, or impossible scenarios you couldn't even wish would happen.

I haven't dreamt in a long time.

My soul hasn't slept for years now. Ryo and I only allow the body to sleep enough to keep it running, other than that one of us is always outside.

Gouki was getting more obedient as well.

He no longer hesitated when I gave him a command. He was the perfect little pawn. Slowly heading towards the other end of the boards, ready to clear a path for myself.

Time flew by, and my alliances grew stronger. For three years I stayed out of school.

I had the perfect plan forming, too.

There were three weapons on the same floor as the vault that held the Dirt. The Hungry Globe, able to steal souls right out of their bodies without the mess; the Dark Mirror, able to grant any one wish at the cost of something so secret not even the archives would tell; and the Demonic Sword, able to turn any human into a demon.

The Hungry Globe would be Gouki's bait.

He said he had a contact who would be interested in the sword.

That left the Mirror up to the highest bidder.

And oh, were the blueprints ever more ready than now, I'd never know.

I was fourteen that summer (my birthday being in late November), and it was late June when the silence was broken once more in our household.

This was the year we'd rob the Reikai.

This was the year I'd participate in the Dark Tournament.

And apparently, this was the year my mother wanted me to go back and finish high school.

My father seemed to finally have enough after three years of silence. Good job, enduring that long. As a reward to them, I granted them their wish.

I was to be re-enrolled in Meiou as a senior, where I'd participate for one month and two weeks in order to earn my High School Diploma. I wouldn't have a ceremony or get the robes or anything, not unless I wanted to enroll for a full year.

That wasn't going to happen.

So, imagine my surprise when I finally found someone close to my intellectual equal in the first week of school. Through the 'Club Festival', of all places (the day all the clubs put together stands in different rooms around the school in order to encourage the students to join one).

"Be careful, Yorusta-san, that move is dangerous." The emerald-eyed wonder said as he watched me make my move in the shogi game.

He was pretty attractive, I faintly remembered him from orientation. The way girls flattered him and placed themselves at his feet made me sick. That blazing red hair was an oddity everyone remembered.

"I'm very well aware of that, Minamino-san." He smiled kindly, and I offered one back. Several voices in the background were pestering me, distracting me. They were all about to be fed to Gouki, if this game wasn't over soon.

"Oh-my-god! She totally just smiled at Shuuichi-kun! And he so smiled back!"

"I can't believe this! Who gave her the right to smile at our Shuuichi-kun?!"

"Did you see that move?!"

"Yeah, think they'll both join?!"

"I hope so! We sure could use players like them!"

"Who are those kids? They both look like seniors, and I haven't seen them before…"

"That's the genius girl, Yorusta Toshiko! Playing on even ground with the golden boy Minamino Shuuichi!"

"He's the guy everyone's been talking about? And I thought that girl dropped out!"

"She did, but she's come back to finish! Those two are the celebrities of the school! You should see their records! That girl was originally going to graduate from here at ten!"

"Ten?!"

"Yeah, this is totally like the episode of genius vs. ignorance that came on last night… except this is total genius vs. genius!"

I could feel my patience wearing away as he methodically moved his piece. Glancing over the board, I moved my piece, capturing his rook.

Poor move, because he captured my 'dragon horse' after that.

The game went on for what was probably a few hours but what felt like days. No one bothered keeping time.

The match ended when the bell rung, signaling it was time to head to homeroom so that paperwork could be passed out before we left.

I stood slowly, giving a smile to the pathetic Shogi Club members who scrambled to pick up after us.

"Yorusta-san." Minamino pardoned, stepping out from behind his chair and bowing slightly. I mimicked the move.

"Glad to finally meet an equal." I said as I grabbed my bag from where I put it against my chair.

"Haha, I suppose you don't get many of those, do you?" Catching the sadistic twitch behind my smile, I could see the thought process going on behind those cunning eyes. "At least, not of your own age group."

I faked a small laugh, keeping up the simple conversation as I walked back to homeroom. Amazingly, he headed in the same direction, what twisted turn of fate is this? "Yes, you are right. Though, I don't suppose you're much older than me, Minamino-san."

Only a professional could hear the venom laced in there.

And yet, he caught it and retorted with ease.

"Well, I suppose you're right there. You could've graduated at ten though, Yorusta-san. I have nothing on that."

I wanted to rip that fake smile off of his face.

"Ah, things happen and fate gets in the way sometimes. 'Ifs' and 'might'ves' don't matter much in this world, I'm afraid. I will be graduating at fourteen, though. That's early enough."

We headed into the same classroom, and at that moment, I wanted to rip his guts out.

"You really are a much more interesting person than you seem, Yorusta-san. I enjoyed our game, till next time we play?" He paused as we entered the classroom, two minutes late but such an odd sight the teacher said nothing.

"Until then, Minamino-san." We bowed and parted; me going to my desk near the back right of the room, him going to his desk at the middle left of the room.

It wasn't until I got home (calm by then) did I realize how violent I had become when irritated.

Wishing him death, and of all things- to do it myself!

Part of me still kept screaming, yelling that when I go back on Monday to kill everyone that had been in that room. All the annoyances that had been pestering me.

Then I realized, I wasn't actually angry at Minamino, but rather the idiots that had been in that room and weren't respectful enough to keep their mouths shut.

I sighed, letting the emotion-full façade fade away as I changed clothes into one of my more comfortable outfits. Grey sweats, baby blue spaghetti strap tee, a pair of white tennis shoes that had seen a few too many muddy days in the park, and a black hoodie I unzipped and kept the hood back.

Checking my image in the mirror, I saw a fourteen year old Japanese girl with natural features, dark eyes and straight dark hair she pulled back into a braid.

This cursed body kept me alive throughout the toughest of times. I know I should be thankful for it, but truthfully… all I really wanted to do was burn it and feel every ounce of glorious pain that came with it.

Ryo took over without much questioning on my part.

I was in no mood to deal with the simple minded.

And thus the appearance of the first of the three thieves ;D Our other favorite thiefy is in the next chapter ;D Guess who??

Thank you Torin, Chibi Botan, and ur-alternative-gurl for reviewing! I love all of you amazing people!

Remember to go check the pairings for this story on my profile, okay? Especially you Torin! ;p Do remember that this is a romance!

Love you all! Please review and see you next week!