Hiya! I'm back everyone, yes...it has been a while since I have updated but
at least I have a chapter here for you now! Enjoy everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Sad as it may seem *sigh*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Chapter 10: History Part 1
Botan sighed as she began to unplaster the peach of her kimono from her wet and still quite nervously shivering body. Tracing the hem of the front of her attire, she found her way to the collar and began to peel back the sticking cloth and remove her arms from its clinging embrace. The calm of the surrounding atmosphere seemed to caress her form as she hid herself reassuringly in the smoke of the spring room.
'That bastard' Botan thought as she continued to slowly undress, looking back once in a while to make sure Youko's prying, perverted eyes weren't there.
Once finished with the task of pulling back the top of her garb, she grimaced as the dampness forced the cloth to peel slowly down her figure and expose her leg little by little. Dropping the beige cloth of the shirt she had been holding, she quickly pulled the attire back up, concealing her body once again, and flushed. Bashfully, her eyes suddenly became enlarged in a sudden realization as they traced themselves down to the floor.
'Wait a minute,' she told herself as she glanced down at the fawn of the chemise, 'How am I going to cover my whole body with only that?!"
Botan, blushing still, huffed, after quickly and reluctantly donning the uncomfortable peach again, using it to its full extent, she set her eyes boldly, yet a little shakingly, toward the entrance door. With one hand holding her drooping outfit up, she tiredly, tread through the dim hallway from the fresh smelling room of the spring, past the huge flowers that continued nip at her sleeves and hair, and toward Youko.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Youko's eyes fluttered from shut to open, and back again as swirls of sleepy mist shrouded his mind. Leaning against the damp wall of the cavern, his arms behind his head in a relaxed position, and his body comfortable in the soft of the hay underneath, his breath began to deepen, and his eyes began to droop closed. Sleep seemed to be like an enchantress to him, almost a witch. It cast a spell upon him, and lured him toward sleep with clawed fingers tickling his skin. Its hands seemed to trace the frame of his face with a lover's touch and cause him to fall into the dangerous state of vulnerability. A miniscule smile spread onto Youko's lips as the imaginary touches played out in his mind, almost fooling to be real. He sighed, and began to relax into his position, his body finding the warmth of the fire before him comforting with its reaching glows upon his wet skin, and all the while, his mind found the swirling of sleep provoking mist, extremely enjoyable.
Youko's mind began to dim, and the smoke of slumber began to take effect; like venom that may have leaked from the enchantress' fingertips, flowing a gentle killer through live veins. Yet something disturbed him from the tranquility of sleep. His ears, trained to be alert at all times, suddenly perked up, and a giggle could be heard from about a meter away. Soft pat pat's could clearly be heard by the kitsune's acute hearing, and he wrinkled his nose and squished his eyes tight shut in attempt to drown away the sound. A small gentle 'hmph' was now heard but two feet away, and halfheartedly, Youko's glazed aurum eyes peeled open, and grazed over the fore object. His eyes seemed to shoot open at once, and his breath was caught in his throat as he went over the form for the second time. His mouth had fallen a gap slightly, sending an act of averting of amethyst from the girl in front of him. She cleared her throat, and started to speak, her feet shuffling nervously.
"Uhmmm," Botan coughed, her cheeks turning a little rosy, "Do you think you can...get me a whole clean set of clothes to wear?"
Youko's eyes seemed to return to their normal size, and a sly smirk glided up his mouth.
"Why do you need to change?" he asked, turning his head a little to side-glance over Botan's showy figure. "I think you look fine the way you are."
He noticed the girl start at his comment, and her shoulders slightly bend inward. Youko let his head droop, looking up Botan through his eyelashes. He watched as she closed her eyes to regain composure. A sly smile formed onto his lips as she proceeded to focus her attention. 'Hmph.' Youko said to himself, 'How confident does she think she can get in my presence?' But as Botan opened her eyes, Youko's head snapped up, following her strong glare. His breath was caught a second time in his throat as he stared back.
"Youko," Botan began, "Give me clothes. Please. Now."
A urged its way to the fox's face, but was pushed down as a smile took its fake place took its place. But despite the polite smiles, his eyes narrowed drastically in a threatening mood. 'What is this girl thinking? What is he doing?' Youko's mind queried. He just couldn't get it. How is it that...this girl...had the nerve to stick up for herself in such a situation? How did she find the gall to even question him for a favor? And not to mention that he, himself, was involved in it, he! The absolute best thief in the three lands! Women have been known to throw themselves at him. But yet...this girl...had something strange.... How can she be so...demanding...in front of him?
"Do you notice..." Youko began, but then stopped, sighing. He watched her stare for a second, fear streaked eyes into his own, before looking away and pondering.
The girl was taken aback at first, but abrupt fear had been substituted by a curious worry.
"What?" Botan asked, reluctantly letting her concern show. Youko smiled, but shook his head. 'Never mind' was all that came as the kitsune got up and walked en route for the darkness. But there was a secret aggravation; cool as the cave's chilling wall that Botan didn't know about. 'How is that she is this way?' Youko thought. She was supposed to fear him...wasn't she? All beings, man or youkai, were suppose to...right?
Youko, walked past the lit, crackling fire and approached the black with ease and knowing. A frown had now come to crease deeply into his face, the gentle smile that was there before, was nonexistent, as it had never been; (as it had been, for it was the fox's sly trickery). He walked blindly without a guiding light through the black, the entire interior imprinted in his mind. Approaching a boulder near the wall opposite the one Botan now sat facing; he snatched up the black attire and sash that lay there and wondered back toward the female at the other side. Her blue hair coming into view, he couldn't help but let his frown crease ever more
"Here." He said coldly, coming from behind her. He dumped the clothes in her lap as he walked past her and strode back to his "bed", and sat down. Seeing her rise to dress, he was surprised to find her bowing.
"Thank you Kurama-sama." She replied obediently before shuffling once again into the hallway.
'Kurama-sama?' Youko's mind repeated. He snorted, and not dwelling on it too long, he leaned back against the wall, and after several minutes, rose to lean against the entrance of the grotto.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Botan let out a deep breath of air as she strode down the hallway. 'I saw that.' She told herself, 'I know he's mad at me. But what I don't get...is why he didn't outright just kill me there. But then again...he's a thief. Silent, unexpected attack must be his thing. Ugh...and that look he gave me...that sent shivers up my spine and almost made me cringe! He's scary...the womanizer.'
Botan sighed, and looked down to the cloth that was gripped tightly within her fingers. Examining the attire, she found it was a dull blue- white sash and a large black, and low collared shirt with a matching set of pants.
"Ugh..." Botan groaned, holding up the outfit, "How is this any better?"
Turning back for a second, she gave a tired sigh and walked back in the direction of the spring room.
'Forget it.' She told herself, 'it's too much trouble to walk back and ask him for other clothes, he may even get angrier with me. Then what would happen?'
Turning a corner, she picked up the beige shirt from before, and mist started to shroud her vision. A grin came to her face. She walked past the flowers, surprised to find herself pleased at their company. Their petals fluttered around her as she proceeded toward the fore room of steam. Upon reaching the entrance, she took note to not fall into the pool as before, and edged around the slippery, but still stable rim. Reaching a corner she collapsed, a small laugh coming from her mouth. Finally, for some reason, she found a sort of calm, easygoing atmosphere. It seemed that a sudden burst of happiness was all that was needed to just wisp everything annoying out of her mind
Again peeling the cloth off her body, at last, (checking once more for Youko), she let the cloth drop to the floor, the steam spreading out to let the cloth plow through the air. She slipped the huge black shirt on and pouted once she looked down. The collar was v-necked down way too much and it was way over her collarbone. And another problem was that though it was low collared, it was somewhat tight, and right at the end of the v- neck, the cloth attached for only about five centimeters of fabric, then parted to expose her stomach.
"Mmmmm...." She wined as she thought. And suddenly she got an idea. Reaching for the sash that she had left on the ground as she had collapsed in joy, she tied it around the area of her breasts. Then crossing the two strips of thin textile, she brought them to the front of her body, and bringing one strip over her stomach, she brought them together tied at her left side. 'There,' she told herself, 'That'll do.'
Now picking up the black pants, she slipped them on, and found them to her astonishment, that they fit her exactly. Her pink eyes widen and she looked back over her side to make sure it was indeed a perfect comfortable fit. She just couldn't believe it, how lucky it was for her, but then why...would Youko have pants that fit a girl around? 'Oh yeah...that fact....' But she shrugged it away, and gathering her old attire, she continued back toward the living room. Walking down the hall, the flowers didn't seem to recognize her anymore and instead growled in defense. She ignored them and continued to move along.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
The drawing room was silent once she reached it. Looking around she couldn't find the fox anywhere. The fire had been put out, and she could see the moon outside starting to rise in a canvas of orange yielding to midnight blue.
"Hello?" She sounded through the cave. But no response came.
"Hello?' she repeated again. Walking through the grotto she searched for the fox demon. The sand underneath shifted dangerously in the dark unknown, and Botan could feel a pit starting to develop in her stomach.
"Hello?" she said again, this time more quietly, "Youko?"
As she neared the wall that Youko had been leaning against, she heard a deep breathing. Getting closer, her squinted eyes and could see the white form of the youkai against the black, and she couldn't help but giggle a little when he snorted and mumbled something forcefully to the like of 'No. I said no!' The commentary spread a smile onto Botan's lips. A thought occurred to Botan, but she shook her head to knock it away, for she noticed...Youko was no longer sleeping after her quiet interruption of little laughs and intruding 'hello's'. But still she thought, though reluctantly, as the thought refused to back away, he did look somewhat pretty asleep. She hesitated, and decided not to reach out and tuck back a strand of hair that fell before his face, and instead smiled and began to walk to the nearest bowl of hay that was a bed, her guard now back up. But she never made it when she had wanted to, for a hand stopped her from behind.
She turned over her shoulder with a menacing glare at the palm that latched onto her wrist.
"Let go of me." She demanded. But that was something regretted. Right after her mandate, as soon as the words fell from her mouth, his grip tightened, and his eyes flared with a hidden fire.
"You should remember who you talk to." He said, loosing his grip on her until his palm slipped from her wrist completely. "Know you're place." He calmly slid back down to sitting position from the stand at which he had secured Botan, and watched as she did the same; landing onto the bed nearest with grace light as a feather. He surveyed her with a cold, pointless look, in a sitting stance of arms wrapped around one up-brought knee, and he waited for her to do something. And when she did nothing but sit, he looked uninterested, away. Feeling the awkward silence, Botan cleared her throat and not looking the thief in the eyes, she attempted conversation.
"So, uhmm...," she began, but she was at a lost of words. She didn't know what to say, or talk about. Who does when you are a girl and the person you're talking to has a life of crime and is a renowned handsome pervert!?
"Why do I keep you here?" Youko finished for her.
"Uh...yes...sure." she said, shifting in the strange new attire she had donned and fiddling with her nervous hands. She looked through her lashes shyly at the thief's coveted face, which was still turned away.
"To tell you the truth..." Youko began, "I don't know myself." He looked over at her with his striking gold orbs. "However...I do know there is something about you that is alluring. I don't know if it is but your looks..." He continued, looking back away, casting his eyes to the blue-ing sky outdoors, "Or if it is something else."
"Wait," Botan said, curiosity running through her voice, "You mean...you just saved me because...I'm...different?"
"Yes, I would guess. Maybe it was your foolish way of challenging me when your training was not yet done, the immature way you rushed in. Or perhaps it was the strange way you saved me from your sensei's swords and then ran me to a clearing to kill me yourself; maybe it's just your sheer peculiarity that intrigues me.... But I do not know."
Botan couldn't quite take it all in, this youkai thief, the best, number one at what he does...but does he only know but that? 'He seems so confused.' She thought. It just puzzled her, how he could be so cold, so dangerous that no one dared to mold him, yet at the same time, he was so vulnerable to be molded by an outside force in categories, he did not know. So this youkai thief did have a weakness...and it seemed that besides the fact that he did violate women, that was not his only weakness. His weakness...was his blank slate in areas of unknown unexperties. Botan smiled, she could use this to her advantage.
Youko's eyes darted back to face her.
"Why are you smiling so? What are you thinking?"
"Nothing." She said, wiping the grin from her face as fast as possible. She looked down as Youko's piercing glance ran over her. She blushed a little as she saw the moon's early rays shine upon his silver hair, casting an eerie illusion of beauty upon him. 'Wow' she thought to herself, 'He's really pretty.' She looked up as he looked away. She cleared her throat again, and started to speak.
"Uhmm...Youko..." She said. He looked over tiredly at her. "Is it alright if I ask...where's your family?" Youko's eyes shot open, but in a moment's time, went to normal size, the enlargement barely visible in that instant's time. He seemed to be hesitating. He did not speak.
"Was it alright that I asked?" Botan said, concern weaved throughout her voice.
"Nobody's ever really asked me that..before." The kitsune thief replied.
"Oh..." Botan said. She was left with a sense of unknowing again. She wasn't sure if it O.K. to ask, or not. But before she was able to think of anything else to say, Youko spoke.
"My family was slaughtered years ago." He said, quite unaffected by the sad event at all. Botan almost gasped, but it was held back, in a quite catch of herself.
"I'm sorry." She answered, averting her eyes to the floor.
"All except my mother." He continued. Botan's head snapped back up.
"What happened to her? Is she alive?" A sense of franticness showed through her voice loud and clear, causing Youko to narrow his eyes at her suspiciously. After looking at her expression again, he questioned her.
"Why do want to know this?"
"Huh..."Botan said, "Uhmm...I just want to know." Youko raised his eyebrow delicately for a second, but continued.
"She was raped by the man whose army destroyed my pack and family." Botan couldn't help but gasp a bit this time, and Youko smiled at the reaction. He waited a while, smirking to himself at how she waited on him to find out this little tid-bit of information.
"And that is how...I came into existence."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Ahh...Chapter done. I feel good now. And I have something to say: Computers...are the stupidest things in the world, my computer decided to become jacked up again! Grr! Well, I hope you can all read this and it gets onto the computer, grr! Well, anyways, always...Read and Review!!!!!!!
^_^ Reviewer time!:
Lady Nightshade: I'm going! ^_^ As you can see, they're just starting to know each other.^_^ And you check your mail twice a day? Do you always get mail? Wish I did. ^_^;
Liz Inc.: K/B!? Yay! And thanks!
Galandria the Vampire Queen: Don't you dare die! I cannot possibly allow you to die, especially from my fic! Here, *waves chapter frantically in front of you*, don't die! an overly dramatic person, aren't I? Haha.
JD Fielding: Thanks! Wow, you analyze a lot. You must be a good student, good person. ^_^, anyways, thanks, and am I really on you fav list? Cool. Thanks. And I hope this chapter cleared up something for you!
Frith: So amazed you'll sing? Wow, hey if you like to sing...^_^ You should really be in a musical, oh, and I have to tell you about Les Miserables....but I plan to do that in a creative way. ^_^ Anyways, your writing is so superb as to attract so many people first chapter of Phantom Kiss! Great job! ...Genius. ^_^
eVa We R lOsT: Love the name! It's great. A Youko/Botan fan? YAY! And your actually not like the last y/b fan I had review, she threatened to send bad news about my fic to all her friends so they wouldn't review! -_-. Anyways...hope you enjoyed this chapy!
Xen003: I've always loved your name as well. What is it again, heh, heh? ^_^; Anyways...you haven't reviewed till now!? =_=, ugh...why? It's kinda depressing. Why? I know how it feel it get reviews too.... But anyways...you have reviewed before, I believe, a while ago. Anways...hope you enjoyed the chapter and *perks up a little* have fun R&R! ^_^ and I hope you update Entangled soon!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Okay, that's all everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter and see ya later! I'll update when I can! Don't know when that is, because you know why? I have another fic to work on as well! It's called Phantom Kiss! It's written in a joint account with Frith, and we take turns writing chapters! Check it out ! And review! ^_^ But don't forget! Important to remember Definitions of a Fox!!!! Till next time everyone! Ciao!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Chapter 10: History Part 1
Botan sighed as she began to unplaster the peach of her kimono from her wet and still quite nervously shivering body. Tracing the hem of the front of her attire, she found her way to the collar and began to peel back the sticking cloth and remove her arms from its clinging embrace. The calm of the surrounding atmosphere seemed to caress her form as she hid herself reassuringly in the smoke of the spring room.
'That bastard' Botan thought as she continued to slowly undress, looking back once in a while to make sure Youko's prying, perverted eyes weren't there.
Once finished with the task of pulling back the top of her garb, she grimaced as the dampness forced the cloth to peel slowly down her figure and expose her leg little by little. Dropping the beige cloth of the shirt she had been holding, she quickly pulled the attire back up, concealing her body once again, and flushed. Bashfully, her eyes suddenly became enlarged in a sudden realization as they traced themselves down to the floor.
'Wait a minute,' she told herself as she glanced down at the fawn of the chemise, 'How am I going to cover my whole body with only that?!"
Botan, blushing still, huffed, after quickly and reluctantly donning the uncomfortable peach again, using it to its full extent, she set her eyes boldly, yet a little shakingly, toward the entrance door. With one hand holding her drooping outfit up, she tiredly, tread through the dim hallway from the fresh smelling room of the spring, past the huge flowers that continued nip at her sleeves and hair, and toward Youko.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Youko's eyes fluttered from shut to open, and back again as swirls of sleepy mist shrouded his mind. Leaning against the damp wall of the cavern, his arms behind his head in a relaxed position, and his body comfortable in the soft of the hay underneath, his breath began to deepen, and his eyes began to droop closed. Sleep seemed to be like an enchantress to him, almost a witch. It cast a spell upon him, and lured him toward sleep with clawed fingers tickling his skin. Its hands seemed to trace the frame of his face with a lover's touch and cause him to fall into the dangerous state of vulnerability. A miniscule smile spread onto Youko's lips as the imaginary touches played out in his mind, almost fooling to be real. He sighed, and began to relax into his position, his body finding the warmth of the fire before him comforting with its reaching glows upon his wet skin, and all the while, his mind found the swirling of sleep provoking mist, extremely enjoyable.
Youko's mind began to dim, and the smoke of slumber began to take effect; like venom that may have leaked from the enchantress' fingertips, flowing a gentle killer through live veins. Yet something disturbed him from the tranquility of sleep. His ears, trained to be alert at all times, suddenly perked up, and a giggle could be heard from about a meter away. Soft pat pat's could clearly be heard by the kitsune's acute hearing, and he wrinkled his nose and squished his eyes tight shut in attempt to drown away the sound. A small gentle 'hmph' was now heard but two feet away, and halfheartedly, Youko's glazed aurum eyes peeled open, and grazed over the fore object. His eyes seemed to shoot open at once, and his breath was caught in his throat as he went over the form for the second time. His mouth had fallen a gap slightly, sending an act of averting of amethyst from the girl in front of him. She cleared her throat, and started to speak, her feet shuffling nervously.
"Uhmmm," Botan coughed, her cheeks turning a little rosy, "Do you think you can...get me a whole clean set of clothes to wear?"
Youko's eyes seemed to return to their normal size, and a sly smirk glided up his mouth.
"Why do you need to change?" he asked, turning his head a little to side-glance over Botan's showy figure. "I think you look fine the way you are."
He noticed the girl start at his comment, and her shoulders slightly bend inward. Youko let his head droop, looking up Botan through his eyelashes. He watched as she closed her eyes to regain composure. A sly smile formed onto his lips as she proceeded to focus her attention. 'Hmph.' Youko said to himself, 'How confident does she think she can get in my presence?' But as Botan opened her eyes, Youko's head snapped up, following her strong glare. His breath was caught a second time in his throat as he stared back.
"Youko," Botan began, "Give me clothes. Please. Now."
A urged its way to the fox's face, but was pushed down as a smile took its fake place took its place. But despite the polite smiles, his eyes narrowed drastically in a threatening mood. 'What is this girl thinking? What is he doing?' Youko's mind queried. He just couldn't get it. How is it that...this girl...had the nerve to stick up for herself in such a situation? How did she find the gall to even question him for a favor? And not to mention that he, himself, was involved in it, he! The absolute best thief in the three lands! Women have been known to throw themselves at him. But yet...this girl...had something strange.... How can she be so...demanding...in front of him?
"Do you notice..." Youko began, but then stopped, sighing. He watched her stare for a second, fear streaked eyes into his own, before looking away and pondering.
The girl was taken aback at first, but abrupt fear had been substituted by a curious worry.
"What?" Botan asked, reluctantly letting her concern show. Youko smiled, but shook his head. 'Never mind' was all that came as the kitsune got up and walked en route for the darkness. But there was a secret aggravation; cool as the cave's chilling wall that Botan didn't know about. 'How is that she is this way?' Youko thought. She was supposed to fear him...wasn't she? All beings, man or youkai, were suppose to...right?
Youko, walked past the lit, crackling fire and approached the black with ease and knowing. A frown had now come to crease deeply into his face, the gentle smile that was there before, was nonexistent, as it had never been; (as it had been, for it was the fox's sly trickery). He walked blindly without a guiding light through the black, the entire interior imprinted in his mind. Approaching a boulder near the wall opposite the one Botan now sat facing; he snatched up the black attire and sash that lay there and wondered back toward the female at the other side. Her blue hair coming into view, he couldn't help but let his frown crease ever more
"Here." He said coldly, coming from behind her. He dumped the clothes in her lap as he walked past her and strode back to his "bed", and sat down. Seeing her rise to dress, he was surprised to find her bowing.
"Thank you Kurama-sama." She replied obediently before shuffling once again into the hallway.
'Kurama-sama?' Youko's mind repeated. He snorted, and not dwelling on it too long, he leaned back against the wall, and after several minutes, rose to lean against the entrance of the grotto.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Botan let out a deep breath of air as she strode down the hallway. 'I saw that.' She told herself, 'I know he's mad at me. But what I don't get...is why he didn't outright just kill me there. But then again...he's a thief. Silent, unexpected attack must be his thing. Ugh...and that look he gave me...that sent shivers up my spine and almost made me cringe! He's scary...the womanizer.'
Botan sighed, and looked down to the cloth that was gripped tightly within her fingers. Examining the attire, she found it was a dull blue- white sash and a large black, and low collared shirt with a matching set of pants.
"Ugh..." Botan groaned, holding up the outfit, "How is this any better?"
Turning back for a second, she gave a tired sigh and walked back in the direction of the spring room.
'Forget it.' She told herself, 'it's too much trouble to walk back and ask him for other clothes, he may even get angrier with me. Then what would happen?'
Turning a corner, she picked up the beige shirt from before, and mist started to shroud her vision. A grin came to her face. She walked past the flowers, surprised to find herself pleased at their company. Their petals fluttered around her as she proceeded toward the fore room of steam. Upon reaching the entrance, she took note to not fall into the pool as before, and edged around the slippery, but still stable rim. Reaching a corner she collapsed, a small laugh coming from her mouth. Finally, for some reason, she found a sort of calm, easygoing atmosphere. It seemed that a sudden burst of happiness was all that was needed to just wisp everything annoying out of her mind
Again peeling the cloth off her body, at last, (checking once more for Youko), she let the cloth drop to the floor, the steam spreading out to let the cloth plow through the air. She slipped the huge black shirt on and pouted once she looked down. The collar was v-necked down way too much and it was way over her collarbone. And another problem was that though it was low collared, it was somewhat tight, and right at the end of the v- neck, the cloth attached for only about five centimeters of fabric, then parted to expose her stomach.
"Mmmmm...." She wined as she thought. And suddenly she got an idea. Reaching for the sash that she had left on the ground as she had collapsed in joy, she tied it around the area of her breasts. Then crossing the two strips of thin textile, she brought them to the front of her body, and bringing one strip over her stomach, she brought them together tied at her left side. 'There,' she told herself, 'That'll do.'
Now picking up the black pants, she slipped them on, and found them to her astonishment, that they fit her exactly. Her pink eyes widen and she looked back over her side to make sure it was indeed a perfect comfortable fit. She just couldn't believe it, how lucky it was for her, but then why...would Youko have pants that fit a girl around? 'Oh yeah...that fact....' But she shrugged it away, and gathering her old attire, she continued back toward the living room. Walking down the hall, the flowers didn't seem to recognize her anymore and instead growled in defense. She ignored them and continued to move along.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
The drawing room was silent once she reached it. Looking around she couldn't find the fox anywhere. The fire had been put out, and she could see the moon outside starting to rise in a canvas of orange yielding to midnight blue.
"Hello?" She sounded through the cave. But no response came.
"Hello?' she repeated again. Walking through the grotto she searched for the fox demon. The sand underneath shifted dangerously in the dark unknown, and Botan could feel a pit starting to develop in her stomach.
"Hello?" she said again, this time more quietly, "Youko?"
As she neared the wall that Youko had been leaning against, she heard a deep breathing. Getting closer, her squinted eyes and could see the white form of the youkai against the black, and she couldn't help but giggle a little when he snorted and mumbled something forcefully to the like of 'No. I said no!' The commentary spread a smile onto Botan's lips. A thought occurred to Botan, but she shook her head to knock it away, for she noticed...Youko was no longer sleeping after her quiet interruption of little laughs and intruding 'hello's'. But still she thought, though reluctantly, as the thought refused to back away, he did look somewhat pretty asleep. She hesitated, and decided not to reach out and tuck back a strand of hair that fell before his face, and instead smiled and began to walk to the nearest bowl of hay that was a bed, her guard now back up. But she never made it when she had wanted to, for a hand stopped her from behind.
She turned over her shoulder with a menacing glare at the palm that latched onto her wrist.
"Let go of me." She demanded. But that was something regretted. Right after her mandate, as soon as the words fell from her mouth, his grip tightened, and his eyes flared with a hidden fire.
"You should remember who you talk to." He said, loosing his grip on her until his palm slipped from her wrist completely. "Know you're place." He calmly slid back down to sitting position from the stand at which he had secured Botan, and watched as she did the same; landing onto the bed nearest with grace light as a feather. He surveyed her with a cold, pointless look, in a sitting stance of arms wrapped around one up-brought knee, and he waited for her to do something. And when she did nothing but sit, he looked uninterested, away. Feeling the awkward silence, Botan cleared her throat and not looking the thief in the eyes, she attempted conversation.
"So, uhmm...," she began, but she was at a lost of words. She didn't know what to say, or talk about. Who does when you are a girl and the person you're talking to has a life of crime and is a renowned handsome pervert!?
"Why do I keep you here?" Youko finished for her.
"Uh...yes...sure." she said, shifting in the strange new attire she had donned and fiddling with her nervous hands. She looked through her lashes shyly at the thief's coveted face, which was still turned away.
"To tell you the truth..." Youko began, "I don't know myself." He looked over at her with his striking gold orbs. "However...I do know there is something about you that is alluring. I don't know if it is but your looks..." He continued, looking back away, casting his eyes to the blue-ing sky outdoors, "Or if it is something else."
"Wait," Botan said, curiosity running through her voice, "You mean...you just saved me because...I'm...different?"
"Yes, I would guess. Maybe it was your foolish way of challenging me when your training was not yet done, the immature way you rushed in. Or perhaps it was the strange way you saved me from your sensei's swords and then ran me to a clearing to kill me yourself; maybe it's just your sheer peculiarity that intrigues me.... But I do not know."
Botan couldn't quite take it all in, this youkai thief, the best, number one at what he does...but does he only know but that? 'He seems so confused.' She thought. It just puzzled her, how he could be so cold, so dangerous that no one dared to mold him, yet at the same time, he was so vulnerable to be molded by an outside force in categories, he did not know. So this youkai thief did have a weakness...and it seemed that besides the fact that he did violate women, that was not his only weakness. His weakness...was his blank slate in areas of unknown unexperties. Botan smiled, she could use this to her advantage.
Youko's eyes darted back to face her.
"Why are you smiling so? What are you thinking?"
"Nothing." She said, wiping the grin from her face as fast as possible. She looked down as Youko's piercing glance ran over her. She blushed a little as she saw the moon's early rays shine upon his silver hair, casting an eerie illusion of beauty upon him. 'Wow' she thought to herself, 'He's really pretty.' She looked up as he looked away. She cleared her throat again, and started to speak.
"Uhmm...Youko..." She said. He looked over tiredly at her. "Is it alright if I ask...where's your family?" Youko's eyes shot open, but in a moment's time, went to normal size, the enlargement barely visible in that instant's time. He seemed to be hesitating. He did not speak.
"Was it alright that I asked?" Botan said, concern weaved throughout her voice.
"Nobody's ever really asked me that..before." The kitsune thief replied.
"Oh..." Botan said. She was left with a sense of unknowing again. She wasn't sure if it O.K. to ask, or not. But before she was able to think of anything else to say, Youko spoke.
"My family was slaughtered years ago." He said, quite unaffected by the sad event at all. Botan almost gasped, but it was held back, in a quite catch of herself.
"I'm sorry." She answered, averting her eyes to the floor.
"All except my mother." He continued. Botan's head snapped back up.
"What happened to her? Is she alive?" A sense of franticness showed through her voice loud and clear, causing Youko to narrow his eyes at her suspiciously. After looking at her expression again, he questioned her.
"Why do want to know this?"
"Huh..."Botan said, "Uhmm...I just want to know." Youko raised his eyebrow delicately for a second, but continued.
"She was raped by the man whose army destroyed my pack and family." Botan couldn't help but gasp a bit this time, and Youko smiled at the reaction. He waited a while, smirking to himself at how she waited on him to find out this little tid-bit of information.
"And that is how...I came into existence."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Ahh...Chapter done. I feel good now. And I have something to say: Computers...are the stupidest things in the world, my computer decided to become jacked up again! Grr! Well, I hope you can all read this and it gets onto the computer, grr! Well, anyways, always...Read and Review!!!!!!!
^_^ Reviewer time!:
Lady Nightshade: I'm going! ^_^ As you can see, they're just starting to know each other.^_^ And you check your mail twice a day? Do you always get mail? Wish I did. ^_^;
Liz Inc.: K/B!? Yay! And thanks!
Galandria the Vampire Queen: Don't you dare die! I cannot possibly allow you to die, especially from my fic! Here, *waves chapter frantically in front of you*, don't die! an overly dramatic person, aren't I? Haha.
JD Fielding: Thanks! Wow, you analyze a lot. You must be a good student, good person. ^_^, anyways, thanks, and am I really on you fav list? Cool. Thanks. And I hope this chapter cleared up something for you!
Frith: So amazed you'll sing? Wow, hey if you like to sing...^_^ You should really be in a musical, oh, and I have to tell you about Les Miserables....but I plan to do that in a creative way. ^_^ Anyways, your writing is so superb as to attract so many people first chapter of Phantom Kiss! Great job! ...Genius. ^_^
eVa We R lOsT: Love the name! It's great. A Youko/Botan fan? YAY! And your actually not like the last y/b fan I had review, she threatened to send bad news about my fic to all her friends so they wouldn't review! -_-. Anyways...hope you enjoyed this chapy!
Xen003: I've always loved your name as well. What is it again, heh, heh? ^_^; Anyways...you haven't reviewed till now!? =_=, ugh...why? It's kinda depressing. Why? I know how it feel it get reviews too.... But anyways...you have reviewed before, I believe, a while ago. Anways...hope you enjoyed the chapter and *perks up a little* have fun R&R! ^_^ and I hope you update Entangled soon!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Okay, that's all everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter and see ya later! I'll update when I can! Don't know when that is, because you know why? I have another fic to work on as well! It's called Phantom Kiss! It's written in a joint account with Frith, and we take turns writing chapters! Check it out ! And review! ^_^ But don't forget! Important to remember Definitions of a Fox!!!! Till next time everyone! Ciao!