"Let's go, come on," Yasha said, rushing Nanashi to pack up her things in her room in one of the fancier inns in Gandara.

To her credit, Nanashi did move faster. Kurama stood waiting with their horses. He was kind enough to pay Nanashi's bill with the money Ruka had given them for their search for Hiei. She was the east side of the city, working her business. On one hand, it annoyed Yasha that Kurama did that, but on the other hand, it would be less money Nanashi would have to pay back to Sakyo.

"Where's Sakyo's money?" he asked her, checking to be sure.

"Buried in my backpack," she said.

"Don't lose it," he told her, leading the way out of her room door.

"I know, else wise I will have to pay it all back if I'm not careful," she repeated from a previous conversation they had with her.

It was already late morning. Yasha was anxious to get on the road before long. Thieves were common in the woods north of Gandara. He wanted to get passed the common thieving point by the evening.

It was midday when they finally got to the north gate of the city. It was crowded with what seemed like everyone and their mother trying to file out of this gate. People were walking since it was too crowded to move on horseback.

"Why can't some of these people use the other gates," Yasha grumbled. They had hardly moved in the last hour.

"Settle down. We'll get through," Kurama soothed.

Yasha gave him a half smirk, asking, "want to make a bet on it?"

Kurama knew what he meant as a bargaining chip when he said 'bet.' Kurama gave Nanashi a discreet glance behind them in line. "Not with..." he started.

Yasha pouted at him. "Come one, you know you can be quieter if you tried," he teased.

Nanashi stumbled on the uneven ground beneath her feet. She staggered and failed to stay on her feet. Her backpack, having been only slung on one shoulder, bounced its way into the crowd. "My bag!" she exclaimed.

Without another word, she shoved the reins of her horse into Yasha's hands before sprinting off after her bag.

It did not take her long to come loping back to her place in line. Her bag was muddy and had a slight tear on one seam, but it was otherwise fine. She explained that some young girl had brought it back to her at a run.

Nanashi managed to keep her footing as they finally managed to get through the north gate and hit the road at a fast pace north.

By the time the sunset, Kurama called for them to stop for the night, make dinner, and set up their tents. Nanashi cooked over the fire Kurama had lit while Kurama and Yasha set up the two tents. Yasha made sure to set up Kurama and his tent at a bit of a distance from Nanashi's tent.

After the quick dinner, Nanashi headed to bed early. She seemed like she was easily worn out and possibly still recovering from the nightlock poisoning. Her part elvish blood was the only thing that could have saved her from that.

Kurama and Yasha set up ropes around there camp set with bells that would sound if an intruder came into their camp. It had worked for them once when a rogue bunch of imps had stumbled their way into their camp. They had had just enough warning at that time to fend off those nightmarish little devils.

Yasha slipped into their tent, zipping their sleeping bags up to make a bigger one so Kurama would have no excuse to distance himself. It had been over a week since they had their own little time of fun.

Kurama slipped into their tent, first frowning then smiling slyly as he zipped up their tent behind them. "You'll be too loud," he challenged, eyes flashing gold for a split second.

Yasha beckoned him to join him in the sleeping bag. "You're usually louder. Besides, her tent is far enough away from ours. I made sure of that."

Kurama stood at the entrance of the tent, hunched slightly as the tent had a low ceiling. Very carefully, he peeled off his own shirt. He let it drop by the entrance of the tent. He slipped into the double sleeping bag with Yasha.

A spar of its own ensued with one of them trying to stay on top of the other. Yasha won, managing to pin Kurama down with subduing kisses along his neck.

"No marks," Kurama moaned softly.

"Don't be so loud," Yasha teased. Yasha let his hands roam beneath him, teasing along Kurama's chest and torso. "Mmm, so strong," he added. "So perfect."

His mouth roamed down Kurama's chest, kissing and sucking along his right side. Beneath him, he could feel Kurama hardening as he went at him. He set up, unzipping the double sleeping bag so he could get at undoing Kurama's pants. He scrambled his way out of the sleeping bag, while leaving Kurama laying there.

Once they were both situated how he liked, he undid Kurama's pants, smirking as he noticed how excited he had gotten. He put his finger to his lips. Kurama growled softly up at him. He then pulled Kurama's cock out of his boxers, bringing his mouth down around it.

Kurama's hands came down to his hair, clinging to it was he moved his mouth up and down. He hummed as he sucked, making Kurama let loose breathy moans.

He took his mouth away, warning him, "don't you need to be quiet?" He brought his mouth back down, sucking harder and humming more.

Kurama brought his hand up to his mouth in response, biting his knuckle. When he noticed Kurama was also holding his breath, he found he could not have that. Yasha reached his hand beneath his mouth, massaging his balls. This got him breathing and moaning aloud again, with how sensitive he was. It also did not take him long to finish after that.

Yasha swallowed and rolled himself up to a sitting position, laughing under his breath. He shushed the panting Kurama kneeling down beneath him.

After that, he crawled a little ways, reaching into his bag, and pulling out his canteen. He managed a few swigs of water before he felt Kurama pull him back over to the sleeping bags. Some of the water splashed on him, but he managed to cap it before Kurama had him on his back.

Kurama was quick to have his pants undone and his mouth on his cock before Yasha could hardly react. Yasha made sure to keep his sounds of pleasure subdued, otherwise the part human, part elf in the other tent might hear them. Kurama finished his off quickly.

Once they both sated, Kurama zipped up their combined sleeping bags around them and laid down on his back. Yasha was quick to roll over to him to cuddle. It was a little bit chilly at night, but the snuggling was always enjoyable and peaceful.

"So what do you think of our little part elf companion?" Yasha mused sleepily.

Kurama hummed under his breath. "Intriguing, a little worn out. A little young."

"Just come of age, too," Yasha commented. "Should I invite her in with us next time?" he teased.

Kurama smirked at that. "Not a chance. I don't like sharing."

Yasha rolled his eyes. "Never did. Her and Hiei, huh? Got her a little confused, interest peaked. She's interested in finding him again, that's for sure."

"He likely did it to calm her down," Kurama wondered. "Did you make sure she packed the remainder of Sakyo's money in her bag?"

"Yes," Yasha murmured.

"You saw her put it in her bag?" Kurama persisted.

"Yea- well, no. But she said she was certain she put it in there," he answered.

Kurama huffed. "She can't lose that money. She'll be deep in debt if she doesn't pay it back. You know what happens when that happens."

"I know," Yasha groaned sleepily. "Check her bag in the morning if you're so concerned."

"Plan on it," Kurama answered, half yawning.

Both of them slept undisturbed until morning. Kurama woke up Nanashi while Yasha made breakfast. After breakfast and packing up, Kurama asked Nanashi to let him check her bag. Cautiously, she handed it over. She left it with him while she got her own horse saddled up. He checked through it, frowning as he looked down inside of it.

"What's wrong?" Yasha asked, sensing Kurama's tension. Kurama shook his head and gritted his teeth.

Nanashi, having finished with her horse came over. Her hand was up next to her mouth, balled in a fist.

"How much did you have left of Sakyo's money?" Kurama asked her, handing her his bag.

"Over 900," she said sheepishly. She looked down and dug through the bag. She went pale, dumping the whole contents of her bag on the ground. Yasha watched her nervously. He only saw one wad of cash on the ground. "I had two wads of cash yesterday. 500 in each, minus what I spent in one of them. What happened?" her voice cracked. She gasped. "When I dropped my bag at the gate, one of them must have fallen out."

"Or been stolen," Yasha added in. "There was that kid who gave you your bag back."

She was panicking now, counting frantically at the one wad of cash remaining in her possession. She was crying and breathing erratically as she was doing so. "The 500 wad... is missing. I only have... 473... left..."

Yasha just watched, unsure what to do while Nanashi divulged into tears on the ground. Kurama did his best to kneel beside her and comfort her.

Once she finally calmed down, Kurama tersely decided, "we need to go back to Ruka."

Yasha gaped at him. "We already wasted enough time earning money for our search for her. Besides, you don't like her."

"Nanashi can get one from her to cover the money that was stolen. As a loan," Kurama reasoned, teeth grinding. He really did not like this idea.

"Who is he?" Nanashi asked them, wiping her eyes. She dejectedly began to repack her bag.

"She is a... business owner in Gandara," Yasha explained. "She used to live in the capital, but moved her business out here. It was easier for her to make money here and run her business the way she likes." Yasha hoped that was vague enough for Nanashi to understand. Yasha really did not like Kurama's idea either, but it was the best option available for her.

Nanashi finished packing her and closed it. She looked down at it and nodded forlornly.

They headed back into Gandara, going to the East side of the city to the are near Ruka's business. Once nearby, Kurama had Yasha stay behind with Nanashi in a tavern while Kurama went ahead to Ruka's business. Kurama seemed determined not to bring Nanashi to her for the loan if she could help it.

In the tavern, Nanashi sat next to Yasha, holding tightly to her bag. She had not even touched the drink he had gotten her. She turned to Yasha and sheepishly asked, "What kind of business does this Ruka run?"

Yasha mulled over how to answer that question. "It's a place where women entertain men, in various ways. Usually beautiful women, and talented women."

"Entertain them, how?" she asked.

"Depends on what the men want the women are willing to do. Drink with them, party with them, sing and dance for them, sleep with them on the rare occasions when the men can afford the ridiculously high prices. Courtesans, but more than that. Artists."

Nanashi blinked at him numbly, like she was surprised, but not surprised about what he explained. "That's what Sakyo wanted to make out of me," she mumbled. "Before, you know, he tried to kill me."

"Got to have talents for that first. Are you musical or artistic in any way?" Yasha asked her. She shook her head. "They can be well read or witty, too. Whatever entertains their clients. Ruka moving her business down to Gandara was a good call. There are few businesses down her like hers, but numerous ones in the capital. She loans out money pretty easy, in return for working of her."

Nanashi's face went pale and her eyes went a little wide. "What kind of work?"

"Depends on the borrowers gender and what kind of work they are willing to do. Kurama and I ran out of money on our hunt for Hiei after he ran off. We worked for Ruka as guards to get funds before we headed out again. And then we found your lovely self."

Nanashi fiddled with the cup in front of her. "If Kurama gets me a loan from her, can I work as a guard for her as well. Or like a cook or something?"

"She's usually pretty willing to let women who work for her do as they please. She's not like other loaners who force people to do things against their will," he answered. "Guards aren't the highest paid though."

"So she's not like Sakyo," Nanashi said with a sigh of relief.

Yasha hummed, "Mmm, Not completely."

The door of the tavern opened, making both Nanashi and Yasha look up out of curiosity. In walked a slightly scowling Kurama with a gorgeous red haired woman behind him. Ruka. Yasha stood up as the two of them walked over to their table. Nanashi clumsily along side of him.

Ruka studied Nanashi without any inhibitions. "So you're the girl who needs a loan?"

Nanashi bowed her head to Ruka. She nodded in answer. The four of them then sat down at the table together. Yasha noticed Kurama was not too keen about sitting beside Ruka. Yasha himself was not too keen about sitting across from her.

"So Kurama told me a vague story about you," Ruka began as she studied Nanashi's face. "There's some holes in it though. Hiei came to your port town, so did Sakyo. Sakyo gave your uncle a loan, but you stole it. And now Sakyo has Hiei captive and you want to rescue him."

Nanashi did not answer. Yasha answered for her, "yes, that's basically it. Enough for you to know."

Ruka smiled at her. "Cat got your tongue?" Nanashi bit her lip nervously, eyes downcast. "A shy, pale beauty. a rarity in this country. Kurama says you want to work for me in return for me to pay off your debt to Sakyo before he finds out you took the money and makes you work for him. What kind of work are you willing to do?"

Nanashi did not answer. Yasha spoke for her again, "we discussed it before you two came in. She would be willing to work as a guard or a cook."

Ruka looked disappointed. "For over 500 dollars, that would take quite a long time." Ruka's eyes lingered on Nanashi's chest. "Other kinds of work don't take that long to pay off."

"She's already said what she's willing to do," Yasha replied protectively.

"Why don't you let the girl speak for herself," Ruka retorted. Ruka turned back Nanashi. "Normally I make a debtor work for me immediately to pay off the debt I took over for them. You know, so they can't go running off and skip out of their debt. Yet Kurama and Yasha have pressed on me for the short time they worked for me that rescuing Hiei is of the essence. I'm willing to agree to take over your debt with Sakyo, but for it to be paid back after we rescue Hiei."

Nanashi looked up at Ruka, blinking vacantly. Yasha replied for her. "Did you just say 'we?'"

Ruka looked over at him. "Yes, we. I can't agree to take over her debt and then watch her skip town on her rescue mission like I turned a blind eye. That would be a poor investment on my part. I agree to take her debt over so long as I go with the three of you to help save Hiei."

"Why? You don't even like Hiei. You once tried to buy him out of his debt to be a guard at your old business in the capital and he refused you," Yasha pointed out. The idea made him cringe.

"I like the looks of you," Ruka replied, nodding over at Nanashi. "My offer is on the table, girl. Do you accept my terms? Speak for yourself this time."

"Um, Kurama?" Nanashi looked over at Kurama.

"It is the best option on the table for you," he answered with honesty. "Not ideal though."

"What's not ideal about it. I'll basically be the one funding this camping trip," Ruka said, offended.

"It's not a camping trip. It's a rescue. Sakyo has the Tuguro brothers with him, along with their two bitches," Yasha pointed out.

"Well, if I come along, I can pay Sakyo back in Nanashi's place sooner rather than later. Less money she'll owe him in the long run what with interest and all that," Ruka responded.

"Yasha," Kurama spoke with a cutting. "It's Nanashi's decision." His face looked like he had just tasted something quite sour.

"What do you say, girlie?" Ruka purred over at her.

Wordlessly, Nanashi nodded. Yasha bit back the groan of displeasure riding up the back of his throat.