Sorry this part is so short... but the scene ended quickly. More coming, no worries.
Enjoy
-----Snow Tigra
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Part 6
Author's note: Yes, this fic was inspired by the Cher song with the same name. Yeah, I know, I'm sad. ^_^;;
The next morning they set out bright and early, just as Yomi had said. The sun was just rising in the sky when Kuronue hooked up their one demonic horse and started the wagon moving. The wagon served many purposes and even though it wasn't in the best shape, it was the best possible ride anyone could get in the Makai, as was shown by the fact that Hiei and Yukina slept through most of the journey not even realizing they were moving.
Time passed quickly and it wasn't long before Kurama could see the colorful pieces of fabric which marked off Mukuro's territory. Sashes of various brightly dyed colors were tied to branches, marking out which road led the right way into the forest. Kurama found himself smiling as Kuronue guided the horse using the cloths as guides, even though both of them knew their way by heart.
Mukuro's territory was more like an elaborate camp made of a mixture of different wagons, carts and tents. Brightly panted colors were everywhere, on clothing, painted on wagons and on nearly everything these youkai used. It was a trait of theirs that was easily recognizable. Travelers in the Makai wore bright colors, showing with pride that they lived outside the normal life style and were both shunned and admired for it. As a result of this and many other factors, such travelers were found on the outskirts of towns and small cities all throughout the Makai. Mukuro's group was no exception. In fact she was one of the most well known of the group, simply for the size of her own little travelling caravan and their talent in nearly every field anyone could think of.
Kuronue pulled the wagon to a stop in an empty space along the circle of already parked wagons and pitched tents and Kurama jumped down from the beside Kuronue, landing on the ground easily. Already other youkai were looking in their direction and nodded greetings, while a few others paused in their work to smile and wave happily. Kurama responded with his own waves, while Kuronue jumped down and locked up the wheels and let the horse loose to eat.
"Kurama!"
Kurama whirled around to face the voice, but didn't manage to turn around fast enough, before he was tackled to the ground in a tight and very friendly hug. Kurama opened him mouth to protest but only managed to laugh as the familiar red-headed youkai hugged him tightly.
"You guys weren't supposed to be here until next moon! I'm glad you came early!"
"Jin, get off him." A lower, more nasal voice, scolded him from behind.
The one hugging Kurama and practically smothering him looked up and stuck out his tongue, but listened anyway and stood to his feet, offering a hand to help Kurama up. "So, how long are you staying? Wanna look around? You going to hang out with the rest of us, or go dance all by yourself again?"
Kurama chuckled as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Calm down, Jin, I just got here. I have no idea how long we're staying, you'll have to ask father about that."
Jin crossed his arms and frowned, as if he didn't believe Kurama, and just waited stubbornly for a better answer. Jin was as bouncy as ever, and Kurama wasn't surprised to see he hadn't changed a bit. His bright red hair, brighter then Kurama's, bushed around his head with little care, setting off the small white horn in the middle of his forehead. His blue eyes were still lit with a childlike excitement that he always had, curious about everything and energetic to a fault. His clothing was small and simple, just a wrap-around around his waist and a pair of old worn boots that looked to be at the point where they were so beat up they were the most comfortable thing in the world, and about ready to fall apart if he stepped wrong.
The one who had scolded Jin a second ago, stepped forward and ignored his friend's accusing gaze which was still focused on Kurama. This one was completely different from his partner, with short blue tinted hair that was smoothed back over his head, with only a few teal colored strands coming down over his face. His eyes were more slanted, his whole face a bit more severe in it's nature then the jolly wind-riding youkai beside him. Touya stepped up to Kurama and extended a hand in greeting, a rare small smile pulling at the edge of his lips. Kurama returned the handshake and smiled brightly back.
"Maybe one day, when you show up, he'll learn not to jump you."
Kurama smirked. "Not likely. Maybe one day I'll learn to look out for him… or to move faster." Kurama winked at Touya and stepped back, looking at both of them. He frowned at Jin. "Oh quit looking at me like I'm lying to you. I have no idea how long we're staying!"
Jin frowned a bit more, then suddenly broke and burst into a fit of giggles, returning back to his jolly self. Grinning at both of them he spun around on his heels and sped off, in Kuronue's direction. No doubt to harass the winged youkai about the same answers he tried to get out of Kurama. Kurama almost pitied Kuronue having to deal with Jin… almost.
"You don't know anything at all?" Touya pressed out of curiosity, watching Kurama with careful eyes.
Kurama shrugged, knowing the questions were normal. Yomi's wagon used to travel with Mukuro's, long before he'd come along and for some reason or another he'd chosen to break off on his own and not travel with them. That was before he'd lost his sight, or so Kurama had been told. So every time they came back, even though they were always welcome, it was always met with some questioning, because Yomi always seemed to have a reason for it.
Kurama leaned back against a tree, next to the wagons. "My guess would be it has partly to do with the two new friends we have in the wagon, but that's about as much as I know. One of them is sick, but he seems to be mostly healed now."
"Yomi picked up two more strays?" Touya's eyes slid over to the closed door of the wagon and he tilted his head a bit in thought, then shrugged. "I'll go tell Itsuki, since Yomi will probably want to talk to him if one of them is sick. The girls are near the main tent, just a heads up."
"Thanks for the warning," Kurama responded. Touya nodded, then turned and headed off toward a wagon decorated with bundles of plants, all hanging out to dry and marking it as Itsuki's wagon.
Kurama stayed leaning against the tree, savoring the small moment of quiet. He loved visiting Mukuro's camp, but he also knew that as soon as Jin stopped harassing Kuronue and word got around that they were in the camp, he wouldn't have a moment's peace. So he just leaned there, listening to the sounds around him and watching Yomi's wagon. He watched Kuronue finally succeed in shooing away Jin, probably by threatening to knock off his horn, and the wind-rider headed straight for where Touya had said the girls were, giggling and ready to spread the news.
Kurama smirked a bit, and then started to count how long it would take for the girls to find him. Maybe they wouldn't break their record and he'd have a few more minutes of freedom….
But not likely.
**
Enjoy
-----Snow Tigra
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Part 6
Author's note: Yes, this fic was inspired by the Cher song with the same name. Yeah, I know, I'm sad. ^_^;;
The next morning they set out bright and early, just as Yomi had said. The sun was just rising in the sky when Kuronue hooked up their one demonic horse and started the wagon moving. The wagon served many purposes and even though it wasn't in the best shape, it was the best possible ride anyone could get in the Makai, as was shown by the fact that Hiei and Yukina slept through most of the journey not even realizing they were moving.
Time passed quickly and it wasn't long before Kurama could see the colorful pieces of fabric which marked off Mukuro's territory. Sashes of various brightly dyed colors were tied to branches, marking out which road led the right way into the forest. Kurama found himself smiling as Kuronue guided the horse using the cloths as guides, even though both of them knew their way by heart.
Mukuro's territory was more like an elaborate camp made of a mixture of different wagons, carts and tents. Brightly panted colors were everywhere, on clothing, painted on wagons and on nearly everything these youkai used. It was a trait of theirs that was easily recognizable. Travelers in the Makai wore bright colors, showing with pride that they lived outside the normal life style and were both shunned and admired for it. As a result of this and many other factors, such travelers were found on the outskirts of towns and small cities all throughout the Makai. Mukuro's group was no exception. In fact she was one of the most well known of the group, simply for the size of her own little travelling caravan and their talent in nearly every field anyone could think of.
Kuronue pulled the wagon to a stop in an empty space along the circle of already parked wagons and pitched tents and Kurama jumped down from the beside Kuronue, landing on the ground easily. Already other youkai were looking in their direction and nodded greetings, while a few others paused in their work to smile and wave happily. Kurama responded with his own waves, while Kuronue jumped down and locked up the wheels and let the horse loose to eat.
"Kurama!"
Kurama whirled around to face the voice, but didn't manage to turn around fast enough, before he was tackled to the ground in a tight and very friendly hug. Kurama opened him mouth to protest but only managed to laugh as the familiar red-headed youkai hugged him tightly.
"You guys weren't supposed to be here until next moon! I'm glad you came early!"
"Jin, get off him." A lower, more nasal voice, scolded him from behind.
The one hugging Kurama and practically smothering him looked up and stuck out his tongue, but listened anyway and stood to his feet, offering a hand to help Kurama up. "So, how long are you staying? Wanna look around? You going to hang out with the rest of us, or go dance all by yourself again?"
Kurama chuckled as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Calm down, Jin, I just got here. I have no idea how long we're staying, you'll have to ask father about that."
Jin crossed his arms and frowned, as if he didn't believe Kurama, and just waited stubbornly for a better answer. Jin was as bouncy as ever, and Kurama wasn't surprised to see he hadn't changed a bit. His bright red hair, brighter then Kurama's, bushed around his head with little care, setting off the small white horn in the middle of his forehead. His blue eyes were still lit with a childlike excitement that he always had, curious about everything and energetic to a fault. His clothing was small and simple, just a wrap-around around his waist and a pair of old worn boots that looked to be at the point where they were so beat up they were the most comfortable thing in the world, and about ready to fall apart if he stepped wrong.
The one who had scolded Jin a second ago, stepped forward and ignored his friend's accusing gaze which was still focused on Kurama. This one was completely different from his partner, with short blue tinted hair that was smoothed back over his head, with only a few teal colored strands coming down over his face. His eyes were more slanted, his whole face a bit more severe in it's nature then the jolly wind-riding youkai beside him. Touya stepped up to Kurama and extended a hand in greeting, a rare small smile pulling at the edge of his lips. Kurama returned the handshake and smiled brightly back.
"Maybe one day, when you show up, he'll learn not to jump you."
Kurama smirked. "Not likely. Maybe one day I'll learn to look out for him… or to move faster." Kurama winked at Touya and stepped back, looking at both of them. He frowned at Jin. "Oh quit looking at me like I'm lying to you. I have no idea how long we're staying!"
Jin frowned a bit more, then suddenly broke and burst into a fit of giggles, returning back to his jolly self. Grinning at both of them he spun around on his heels and sped off, in Kuronue's direction. No doubt to harass the winged youkai about the same answers he tried to get out of Kurama. Kurama almost pitied Kuronue having to deal with Jin… almost.
"You don't know anything at all?" Touya pressed out of curiosity, watching Kurama with careful eyes.
Kurama shrugged, knowing the questions were normal. Yomi's wagon used to travel with Mukuro's, long before he'd come along and for some reason or another he'd chosen to break off on his own and not travel with them. That was before he'd lost his sight, or so Kurama had been told. So every time they came back, even though they were always welcome, it was always met with some questioning, because Yomi always seemed to have a reason for it.
Kurama leaned back against a tree, next to the wagons. "My guess would be it has partly to do with the two new friends we have in the wagon, but that's about as much as I know. One of them is sick, but he seems to be mostly healed now."
"Yomi picked up two more strays?" Touya's eyes slid over to the closed door of the wagon and he tilted his head a bit in thought, then shrugged. "I'll go tell Itsuki, since Yomi will probably want to talk to him if one of them is sick. The girls are near the main tent, just a heads up."
"Thanks for the warning," Kurama responded. Touya nodded, then turned and headed off toward a wagon decorated with bundles of plants, all hanging out to dry and marking it as Itsuki's wagon.
Kurama stayed leaning against the tree, savoring the small moment of quiet. He loved visiting Mukuro's camp, but he also knew that as soon as Jin stopped harassing Kuronue and word got around that they were in the camp, he wouldn't have a moment's peace. So he just leaned there, listening to the sounds around him and watching Yomi's wagon. He watched Kuronue finally succeed in shooing away Jin, probably by threatening to knock off his horn, and the wind-rider headed straight for where Touya had said the girls were, giggling and ready to spread the news.
Kurama smirked a bit, and then started to count how long it would take for the girls to find him. Maybe they wouldn't break their record and he'd have a few more minutes of freedom….
But not likely.
**