Ambush

L.A.: I know, it's been forever since I last wrote. I've had a lot of outside creative writing I've been doing. By the time I get home, I'm exhausted.

Amu: We've been so busy that I don't get to eat pie.

L.A.: You had some yesterday.

Amu: Yes, but I should have at least 5 or 6 pies a day. Not one.

L.A.: Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Death101-Fox Version: Thanks for the review! Yes, only Atolla would think of something like that. The little pervert.

KiannaLeighMV500: Thanks for the review! Sorry I keep going away. Don't worry though, I do plan to finish the story at some point.

YYH-FanKB: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it!

KhAel: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it!

Angel of Randomosity: Thanks for the review! Glad I'm making this better and better!

spoiled princez: Thanks for the review! Yep, Atolla's very possessive. Silly dog demon. Doesn't he know not to fight with Kurama?

Clarisara: Thanks for the review! Yay! I'm glad this isn't cliche. I try to make it as original as possible.

Eadlin: Thanks for the review! Glad you like my o.c.s.

xOxO Lost Angel OxOx: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you are enjoying it!

Black Kaitou: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it!

chibi: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did, school wouldn't be overwhelming me at the moment.

Shuichi was right. The paste actually did help. The pain had lessoned considerably as soon as she applied it. Also, her stomach had settled enough that she could swallow her lunch without the risk of throwing it back up.

Of course, her stomach started to knot back up again when she stepped outside and saw Genkai waiting for her.

"Your dog ran away again," Genkai said, looking cross.

"He's not my dog," Cora muttered.

Genkai either didn't hear her or didn't care. "You need to find him before we can continue training."

"Why?" Cora groaned. "It's not like he's even participating in this."

"Exactly," Genkai said. "I don't have time to train the both of you separately. Now go find him."

Cora resisted the urge to sigh as she walked away. Why couldn't Atolla try to learn from Genkai? Cora was human but at least she was sucking it up and dealing with it.

She blinked as she realized that she was at the edge of the forest. "Wow, I really wasn't paying attention." She turned to leave when she caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye.

"Atolla?"

There was no response. She heard rustling in the undergrowth. This time it was further away.

Cora followed the noise. "Come on Atolla. This isn't funny."

The rustling continued.

After a couple of steps, Cora stopped. What if it wasn't Atolla she was hearing? What if she was just following a squirrel?

Feeling stupid, Cora turned to head back to the temple. "Bye Atolla," she said, just in case he really was pulling a prank.

She had only taken a few steps back toward the temple, when a blur shot from the bushes and attacked her.

Cora gasped as she was slammed into a tree. She'd lost her breath and the constant pressure the stranger was applying to her throat wasn't helping things either.

Through watery eyes, she could make out the attacker. He looked like a minotaur.

"Where's the dog demon?"

"What?" Cora gasped out. "I don't know."

"The dog demon," the Minotaur hissed. "He is here. I can smell him."

"I told you," Cora gasped. "I don't know."

"Then you're no use to me," the Minotaur said as he tightened his grip on her neck.

A sword rested against his neck.

"Put her down," Atolla growled.

The Minotaur grinned as he carefully lowered Cora. "So good to see you, Atolla. Ryuu sends his regards."

He grabbed something out of a pouch attached to his waist and threw it in Atolla's face.

A gold dust spread across Atolla's face and he began to cough wildly and rub his eyes.

The Minotaur grinned as he took a step back.

"Atolla?" Cora asked as she rushed toward him. "Are you alright?"

Atolla stiffened and suddenly transformed into his dog form.

"Atolla?" Cora asked.

Atolla blinked as his tongue lolled out. He looked up at Cora, wagged his tail, and yipped.

The Minotaur laughed. "Seems you have a better disposition."

"What did you do to him?" Cora asked as she tried to prevent Atolla from nuzzling her.

"Just turned him into the dog he is." The Minotaur bent down and picked up the sword. "Now, I…" The Minotaur groaned as he clutched his chest.

Atolla growled at him as he stood protectively in front of Cora.

A moment later, the Minotaur relaxed. When he looked up at them, his eyes were glowing red.

Cora and Atolla backed away from him.

"Uh-oh," Cora whispered. "This can't be good."

"Kill," the Minotaur hissed. "Kill."

Atolla barked but it didn't deter the Minotaur. He raised the sword over his head.

A vine shot out of the brush and knocked the Minotaur over.

The vine retreated as Shuichi stepped from the undergrowth.

"What's going on?" Shuichi asked as he retracted his whip.

"He's got Atolla's sword," Cora said as she me Shuichi halfway. Atolla stuck to her like a shadow. "And he did something weird to Atolla."

Atolla looked up at Shuichi. His tongue lolled out and he wagged his tail.

"Yeah," Shuichi said. "Something's definitely wrong."

The Minotaur lurched to his feet again. He looked like a puppet with invisible strings.

The sword was held high over his head glowing blood red.

"The sword's controlling him," Shuichi said, bringing the rose in front of him. "Be prepared."

A kunai struck the ground in front of the Minotaur and exploded.

The Minotaur was thrown backward. The sword flew out of his hand.

Cora and Shuichi tensed while Atolla growled.

"So sorry for Taurus," a demon dressed in head to toe ninja garb said. He sat in the branches of a nearby tree. "He's never been good at thinking."

Taurus groaned but didn't make an effort to move.

"Who are you?" Shuichi asked. "Why are you here?"

"In time, you will know," the ninja hopped down and picked up his comrade.

"You're not taking the sword?" Cora asked before she could stop herself.

"Our boss has other plans," the ninja said. "You can keep it… for now."

He and Taurus disappeared into the undergrowth.

Shuichi waited a moment before relaxing. "They're gone."

"What was that all about?" Cora asked.

Atolla cocked his head at her as if he was trying to understand her.

"Not sure," Shuichi said as he crouched in front of the sword. "But we need to do something about this sword."

"Can't you pick it up?" Cora asked.

Shuichi shook his head. "You saw what happened to Taurus. I'd hate to think what would happen if either one of us held it." He glanced at Atolla. "I'm surprised he's able to control it."

Cora looked down at Atolla.

He stared back up at her in adoration. He wagged his tail and licked her hand.

"This is weird," Cora said. "We need to fix this."

"You don't like having a normal dog?" Shuichi asked as he held a hand over the sword.

"No, I'm just not used to it," Cora said as she gently shoved Atolla's head away again.

Shuichi's brow furrowed as he concentrated on the sword. A plant popped out of the ground and wrapped around the sword.

Shuichi sighed as he stood back up. "That should keep it safe for now. We'll head back and figure out what to do next."

"What the hell is going on?" Yusuke said.

When they reached the temple, the everyone was waiting for them. The entire barrier that surrounded the temple was glowing purple.

"Someone's reversed the barrier," Genkai said. She didn't look happy. "It's keeping us in instead of keeping others out." She glared at Atolla. "What's his problem?"

Atolla was currently wiggling around on his back trying to get attention.

"We were attacked," Cora said. "Atolla inhaled some strange powder and now he thinks he's a normal dog."

"He probably got a whiff of wolf's bane," Genkai said. "It does weird things to canines."

"Will it wear off?" Cora asked.

"Eventually," Genkai said. She glanced at Shuichi. "I'm surprised you don't know about this."

"I don't know about it because I personally like to stay away from the plant," Shuichi said.

"So, what do we do now?" Cora asked.

"Some one's planning to attack us," Genkai said. "We'll have to wait until then."

Cora couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her spine.

L.A.: I know, it's short. At least I'm updating.

Amu: Why is there no pie?

L.A.: Seriously, just go eat one already.

Amu: No, I'm watching my figure.

L.A.: (rolls eyes) Anyway, I'm not going to give a schedule for updates since every time I do, I end up not following it.

Amu: Yeah, you fail a lot.

L.A.: So, I'll just say I'll update when I can. Anyway, you know what to do. READ and REVIEW!