Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or any character related to YYH. I am simply using two of my favorite demons for entertainment purposes, and I am not making any money by doing so. I won't be putting this disclaimer on any of the other chapters, because I assume you will already know that I don't own YYH (hence this disclaimer). I won't be writing huge explicative A/N's after this chapter, either.
A/N: This is my first YYH fanfic, and I'm no expert. I have not seen EVERY episode, but I have seen eps. 1-42(uncut) up to the current (edited) episode showing on CN, and also the second movie. I make no apologies for preferring the dubbed version, and you will probably notice my lack of knowledge of Japanese terms, etc. (I'm trying to learn, I promise). DO leave a review if you enjoyed the story/chapter. DON'T review me saying that I suck because I missed a detail or two or got something wrong. I love to learn new things, so if I did something wrong, please email me and explain what I should be doing. I promise I'm not overly sensitive to constructive criticism (so don't think I'm going to attack or bite your head off), but I do hate reviews with the sole intent to hurt feelings. If it seems Mary-Sue at some points, remember there is a reason for it. *Wink, wink*
Summary: Kuronue saves a female demon and romance blossoms. Kurama doesn't trust her, and Kuronue may be forced to choose between his friend and the woman he loves. Can Kurama discover her dark and deadly intentions before it's too late? I rated this 'R' for some language, violence, and some adult situations (as far as I can go without it being NC-17), though this chapter isn't too bad. Slightly non-canon in some areas for entertainment or storyline purposes.
*Note: To avoid repetitive use of the words male/female demon, I use man/woman as well. I will also use the word Ningen to signify human being and Ningen man/woman to represent gender.
*Ch.1-On the Hunt*
The night was cool and dark, just the way she liked it. The cover of night would serve as excellent concealment as she searched the makai landscape for her next victim, and the cool breeze would make it easier for her to get close when she went in for the kill. Such was the life of a hunter; conditions had to be just right for a successful hunt.
Her last meal left much to be desired; he was far too young, and his spiritual energy ranked with the lower classes of demon, leaving her hungry after only a short time. The poor bastard never knew what hit him, when in the midst of carnal pleasure she began to drain him of his spirit. Still, he had put up a real fight once he realized what she intended for him, and if there was one thing she loved in a man, it was a fiery temper. Making the marks murderers and thieves made it easier for her to justify the taking of life, and she was able to face herself once again when it was all over.
"What do you feel like tonight, Reika? Perhaps a nice kitsune, or maybe even an ice demon would do. Whatever shall I find tonight?"
She had been alone for a long time, and talking to her self had become more than just a bad habit, it had become the norm. Sometimes, even, she would have arguments with herself over whether or not to eat the victims once she had drained them of their spirit energy. Of course, that was always a last resort and depended solely on whether or not the youkai had been especially evil in life. Devouring the corpse was simply her way of releasing the earth from its responsibility of bearing the despicable body any longer than it already had.
The idol chatter lasted for some time when she found herself nearing an especially dark forest. Reika smiled at her unexpected stroke of luck; this would be an ideal location to search, as the thick trees would be desired by criminals and bandits seeking to disappear from the light of the open. Further into the woods she flew, her dark tresses fluttering about as recently awakened wings carried her gently, yet hurriedly, through the darkened sky. The breeze felt delightful on her skin, and the flight was comforting in a strange sort of way. The feathery wings were a welcomed physical trait in her pursuit of food, but thankfully, the burdensome weight disappeared during the daylight hours, taking refuge under her skin, and sprouting from her back only at nighttime.
When she spotted the silvery glimmer of the moon as it reflected off of a body of water below, Reika decided to momentarily stop her hunt in order to freshen up. It wasn't easy to trap a man when you looked like you'd just crawled out from under the ground, and she would need to look her best if she was to trap a robust demon with a strong Ki.
"Ah, a bath should do nicely indeed."
Reika sighed and lowered herself softly onto the mossy ground. It had been almost two days since her last kill and her last bath, and she was eager to do both again soon. She was tired and hungry, and the sooner she found the target, the sooner she would be able to rest again. If her luck held, she would not need to feed again for another week. She began to undress as she contemplated her plans for a future rest, unlacing the front of her dark sapphire blouse as she walked. An abrupt noise from the lake startled her and she clutched at her open top, making for the safety of a nearby bush. The lake had been deserted when she landed, but apparently she had been a bit late in claiming the lake as her own…she would have company, and with luck, that company would be male. She wasn't picky, she thought, and if a meal had been delivered to her, she wasn't going to complain.
Squinting her dark green eyes, she tried to discover the identity of the thief, and when they adjusted to the darkness, she was able to see that chance was indeed on her side. Not only would she be having a bath this evening, she would also be having a meal.
Reika moved closer, trying to be quiet and remain unnoticed while she watched him. She would need a few moments to figure out the best way to approach if this was to be a success. The lost damsel in distress easily fooled some, while others were wiser and had to be lured in by an unambiguous promise of sex. She could usually tell at a glance what was best, but this one was different, he seemed to be masking the true potential of his spirit energy, and wasn't as easy to read. Occasionally there would be a "different" one, and this spirit energy usually tasted the sweetest. Her insides leapt at the pleasant prospect that might be in store for her; if he was as strong as she believed, she might not need to feed again for several months.
Still clutching her shirt, Reika inched closer, trying to catch a glimpse of his face as she did so. His long black hair draped down between a pair of ebony wings, falling to the hollow of his naked back, and moonlit drops of water glistened on his body like newly polished diamonds exposed to light. He had a slender build and the fine curves of muscle could easily be seen by the outline of his body. He was strong, both in body and spirit; she could feel it in her gut. This was going to be fun, if she could only figure out the perfect ruse.
SNAP!
The sudden sound of snapping twigs startled her and caused her to whip around in surprise, and not knowing what she would find when she turned, she began to tremble.
"Well what do we have here? Looks like we have a peeping tom. What do you think Nouru, you think we got a peeping tom here?"
Two large and imposing demons were approaching her from behind, their evil intentions radiating from them with each step they took. She could fight them, but together, they would kill her with ease. Think. Perhaps the perfect plan had just stumbled into her lap, and the idiots had no clue they were going to help her rather than hurt. She would allow them to take her a little further away from this spot and coax a few strikes from them before screaming for help. Hopefully this plan would proceed as planned, and her dark winged demon from the lake would come to her aid.
"Gentlemen," she said in a whispered voice "shall we go over there and you can have whatever it is you'd like?"
Reika allowed her top to fall open, the curves of her small breasts exposed, and her arms slowly rising to show that she would offer them no trouble.
"Looks like we have a naughty girl here, Akikazu."
She shuddered in disgust; this was going to take more courage than she'd originally thought. The one eyed demon covered with green frizzy hair was definitely not the type she would allow to touch her, if given the choice, but time was of the essence and for all intents and purposes, he fit the bill. The taller one with tremendous horns and rotten fangs, whom she'd figured was named Nouru, clutched her arm and began dragging her over to a spot some thirty feet away. She suddenly began wishing there had been an easier way; this demon was strong, and his breath was nauseating. She would be in real trouble if her calls for help went unanswered.
"Let me see what we've got under here."
Nouru began pawing at her top, tearing it completely open in the process and revealing that she wore no other garments under the blouse. The two hideous beasts began smiling and cackling at their good fortune.
"I wouldn't believe it if it weren't right before me. Two repulsive beasts like you think that a glorious creature such as I would soil myself with your filth?"
Reaching out, she brought her hand around and struck Nouru, hard enough to hurt, but not loud enough to be heard any farther than by those in close proximity. Nouru clenched his jaw, the fury obvious as he leaned down into her face. She had teased them, and now she mocked them. They would have their way with her, and then the she-demon would pay with her life. Nouru's large clenched fist fell heavily, like an anvil, making contact with her fragile face and sending her flying to the ground with a thud.
"Thank-you, you repugnant idiot, that's exactly what I was waiting for." She paused before finally screaming:
"HELP!"
