Note: Youko is: a member of a promiscuous race of fox-demons.



~Chapter 5: The Arrogance Of Hiei~



"Hmph. That was boring." The black figure leapt from tree to tree, quickly falling away from the direction Kuwabara was heading, and towards the supposed area of the escaped Kitsune.



Feet made almost no sound as he moved, for he was just a black blur with a streak of white. Faster, and faster, until he came to a complete stop, and crouched in the shadows. The strong oak tree he waited in was perfect for what he wished to accomplish, to study this fox youkai...



Long moments trailed by, and it wasn't until he was about ready to go find Kurama and ask him a few things when the woman, the youkai, appeared and sat down by a tree.



Sakura blossoms were in her hair and cupped in her hands. He could not see her eyes from where he sat. Also her hair obscured his view. "Hmm..."



She scattered the blossoms across the ground before her, and seemed to stare at them as the wind tossed them around. Her tail was motionless, and her ears flattened back against her hair. Actually, after a moment of though, her hair reminded him of Youko Kurama's during the dark tournament, but a pure black color. He kept that in his mind to ask Kurama, or someone else... if she just might be a youko herself.



Silence as all that could be heard for a few more hours, until the kitsune's head was raised, and traces of blood streaks could be seen, beginning at her eyes. Cupped in those delicate looking hands was a mess of her own blood, which was splattered across the sakura leaves and grass. She seemed to have no point to doing this, besides seeing blood spilt on the ground.



Even if it was her own.



Nothing crossed her features as she ripped that katana from within it's sheath, placing it to her arm and preparing to drag it across. But a mumble startled her, and she stared up into the trees, unable to pick out a clear figure...



"Took you long enough to notice I was here. But yet, you had to hear me to notice me. Pathetic." Hiei let himself 'fall' from the tree to land on his feet with no sign of balancing himself. He didn't need to.



Hands hidden or within pockets, the small youkai stared with those crimson eyes at the kitsune across from him. A small grin was on his face.



"When I first saw you, back there with Yusuke and the others, I really did think you might be a great opponent. But after watching that baka Kuwabara send you running...? I could destroy you with one finger." He'd raise his finger, with no point proven.



"You apparently don't know the whole story then, do you? I always dip my mini tantos in a speciality venom. And since he struck me with my own venom... well, you should be able to figure out the rest." Only those few words uttered, and she had disappeared without even getting up onto her feet.



No expression change came onto his face as she suddenly came into view behind him, swinging her fist around to smack him in the side of his head. Yet no contact was made, for her fist was caught thanks to one of Hiei's hands. She didn't even seem startled at that counter.



"Hmrph. Can't you make it anymore interesting?"



"I already did, Baka." She would pull away, and extend her pointer finger, gesturing towards his foot. It had been totally wrapped around in vicious thorn plants.



But the plants hadn't had enough time to get a firm grip and there roots locked down. Hiei just yanked his foot up with plenty of force, and they ripped right on out. Neither of them had an expression on their face. Mainly because the kitsune's face wasn't seen... anywhere.



Luckily Hiei side stepped in plenty of time to evade her kick, directed towards his spine. But her assault was too slow, and he couldn't understand why.



But the reason came clear as soon as her hand, palm first, slammed into his face. Hiei fumed.



"NEVER STICK YOUR HAND IN MY FACE AGAIN BITCH!"



He drew his katana and brought it slashing down across her shoulder, which immediately started bleeding. Her skin had ripped open, and she didn't make a single move to stop the crimson river that was draining down her arm, and dripping onto the ground. She only stared at him blankly...



Then grinned.



"What are you grinning about?!" He was angry, and was being to advance, his grip ever tightening on his blade.



She then broke into soft, yet blood chilling laughter. She raised her hand, and in between her middle and index finger resided what seemed to be a rock thing... smooth, in a circle shape. Flat yet thick. It was green in tint, and had some kanji symbol on it.



"Chi... or earth. Thank you for allowing me to obtain this!" She'd grin, and then tuck the small, flat green rock into her shirt, for safe keeping.



At that same moment, her spirit energy seemed to rise a notch.



"Now, Hiei. You have helped me to bring the end of the ningen world!" Both of her hands flew up as she spoke, and earth crumbled and shot up in a circle around Hiei's small figure.



He had no time to escape, for already was a massive boulder blocking any exit from the top. But, amazingly, it crumbled away and he shot through it like a black bullet, to land up in a tree. Red eyes glared around to see if she had made that stupid mistake, or if some fool had dared to help him.



"Kurama, is that you?" Hiei saw his friend's maroon-dressed figure off to the side, wielding that powerful rose whip.



"Hiei, go find Yusuke. Now." There was a trace of laziness in his voice, but Hiei couldn't figure out why Kurama would speak like that.



"Right Kurama." With a quick glance back at the startled kitsune at the sudden appearance of Kurama, he grinned and took off. "Too bad I didn't get to finish her off."



"Now, Naoko. Let's begin where we left off about sixteen years ago..." That whip made of thorns quickly shrunk back into a rose that was placed behind his ear, green eyes fixed on the female kitsune before him.



"Why are you so bitter to me? We are both youkos... you know of our past, so why-"



"Because you're living in a ningen body! You care for them, Kurama! You're not the Youko I remember! Fighting with ningens... you're not even a trace of that famous thief I once loved..."



~Next Chapter: Number 6: Reasons Revealed~



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I know this one sucked. Just don't hurt me.