A Fox Thief in Tokyo?

Chapter 10: The thoughts of Thorne

Solaris: I'm currently hiding in a closet so Foxglove can't kill me. Anyhow, thanks to all the reviewers and please review again!

Foxglove: And for when I find Solaris, please suggest a way for me to torture her. Something painful and long running, preferably.

Solaris: Please ignore my muse, don't suggest anything painful or long running… Please?

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Thorne escaped from the confining room and home in a sort of unfamiliar area. She knew her reincarnation had to live here, but she didn't. And she could go out any time she wanted. Maybe if I get out and go where I feel drawn to, I can figure out why this place feels so familiar… she thought. As she wandered the place her reincarnation knew as Tokyo, she figured out how she knew it. This place has changed a lot since 900 years ago…

*Flashback *

The tall, reddish haired fox girl dodged and wove between trees, quickly and effectively escaping her pursuers. The jewels she had stolen would keep her and Lexi in food for years or at least pay for an afternoon of fun and a gourmet dinner that night. Lexi hadn't been able to participate in this theft; she'd hurt her ankle bad enough that she had been doing good to hobble over to her the few days previous to try and beat her over the head for taking the jewels she had stolen. She approached the cave she had chosen for their hideout with caution. After all, one never knew when the bounty hunters and angry villagers would arrive. No one was there except her partner in crime.

"Hey, Lexi, how's the ankle?" she asked jovially as she entered.

"Better. So, did you get the jewels?" the dog demon asked, her furry ears perking up. Thorne simply smiled and held up the two bulging bags of diamonds, jade, rubies and emeralds as her answer. Lexi grinned and got to her feet and they began splitting the heist 50/50.

*End flashback *

Somehow, Thorne found herself sitting on the windowsill of a familiar-looking person. Then she recalled: her reincarnation knew him as "Shuichi Minamino". In his sleep, he looked oddly like the Kurama she knew, and may well have once loved. It wasn't likely, however. Oddly enough, that was the night I met Kurama…

*flashback *

Later that evening, the two returned to the Spirit World, ate at a local tavern and basically had a good time. As they left, they looked at the full-to-bursting bag on Thorne's hip, and each considered where to spend it next. Just as the two girls walked out into the semi-open, someone ran and knocked Lexi over; a black-haired, distinctly different person. Lexi's face turned a light pink as she saw who had knocked her over inadvertently. Thorne could acknowledge that he was cute in a sense, but it didn't matter; even the cutest person in Reikai could be out to take their jewels. Thorne fumed and stormed over to her partner in crime.

"Lexi, what are you doing? We're supposed to be thieves, not bystanders who get run over every chance they get! What's your problem?" she practically shouted. Suddenly, something snatched at the hip pouch and she felt only lightness at the side of her body the bag had hung on. "Hey!" she shouted as she saw a silvery haired someone with ears like hers (except silvery white) opening the bag to see the fruits of her heist. Somehow, anger gave her wings and she rushed to the familiar person and beat them over the head, reclaiming the beautiful gems. "Those are mine, I believe." she said, staring down her nose at the familiar form of Kurama. "And the person you ran into, Lexi, must be Kuronoe. Nice to meet you in the flesh, Kurama. Now leave my jewels alone." Thorne said stormily. The foxish figure rose to his feet.

"Well, well, well, what have we here? Little miss attitude, and self-proclaimed Queen of thieves, Thorne. Good haul?" he asked jovially.

*end flashback *

Thorne smiled a small smile and watched the sleeping figure. He really looks like Kurama did in his sleep… but why am I thinking of that time now!

*flashback *

The theft had gone without a hitch. It had been a few weeks since the two groups had joined forces, and any theft the four spirits had attempted had succeeded beautifully. Now it was night, late, and the four had settled down in a dense forest and, in Lexi's, Kuronoe's, and Kurama's cases, fallen asleep. However, Thorne simply lay there, staring at Kurama's sleeping face. He seems so… peaceful. Much different from the Kurama I know by day... she thought. The sleeping form stirred slightly and she sat up. He was still asleep, just tuning over on to his side. She leaned over on her stomach and stared at the sleeping form of the now familiar face of Kurama. I wonder if he would notice…she thought as she leaned further, her lips just about to touch his, when suddenly his eyes opened. Thorne leaped back as if she had been burnt, and Kurama chuckled.

"Couldn't sleep for my good looks, eh, Thorne?" he said. Thorne laid back on her side, and turned her back to him.

"Presumptuous fool. Why should I keep myself awake wondering how someone so vain could have survived this long?" she scoffed and fell asleep.

*end flashback *

The sleeping form of the red head stirred slightly and Thorne jumped a little. The boy's eyes opened slightly, revealing them to be a startling beautiful green, and Thorne left quickly. As much as she hated to admit it, her reincarnation had taste. Shuichi was a cute boy, for a ningen, and though her reincarnation wouldn't admit it yet, she had a crush on the red head. She also knew that she would probably return the next night and the next to watch the boy's sleeping figure. Maybe her reincarnation would someday admit her feelings, and perhaps even be this boy's sweetheart. Thorne, having never truly found someone she loved, knew that her feelings would be unrequited (for who could love her, a thief?), but she could still dream and watch over the boy's sleeping figure to keep him safe as possible.

Meanwhile, Hiei jumped into the room and sat on the end of Kurama's bed.

"You have just seen Thorne, Rose's previous incarnation." Kurama clarified, a small smile on his face.