Chapter 3 Trapped: part 1

Youko strolled along lazily. The ningen girl on his shoulder slept deeply, as if she were in a coma. The woods cleared out, a black figure was fuming-no seething. Koronue looked rather rumpled, veins were popping out all over his face.

"Exactly where and what the hell have you been doing?" he asked through gritted teeth. "I thought you had been attacked! What do I find you doing? Searching for a toy! What is wrong with you?!"

"One, I'm flattered that you were worried. Two, she is not a toy; she was the one who rescued us last night. Three, I want answers from her, and so do you, apparently." The fox replied casually. Koronue cocked an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

"Positive, I recognize the scent on the cloak."

"So what do you plan to do with her? Wait till she wakes up and then put a knife to her throat and interrogate her on pain of death?"

"Of course not, that would be rude! She did save us after all. We owe her a little gratitude." Whether he crooned with sweet grace or bitter vengeance or both, Koronue took a step back.

Youko didn't expect the female to wake up any time soon; her spirit energy had been leeched for who-knows-how-long. Being a practiced healer with plants, her injuries would take no time to heal at all. Except for a deep gash on her wrist, it looked jagged, and infected. This was the hand she had struggled to work free so many times. He didn't mind fixing her hurts, most of them were only flesh wounds, and he quite preferred the smell of her blood compared to others.

He still felt irked about what had happened the night before, but tried not to think about the horrible things he could do as revenge. Something about this human intrigued him. It wasn't her face, not the fact that she was a female, or that she was in Reikai of all places. He could not quite place it. He was tying the last knot on her wrist's bandage when she moved.

"Hurts…" she pulled her wrist away and twitched her fingers. 'She is dreaming, how cute. Pathetic human.' The fox petted her forehead, 'pretty little thing, too. Too bad I'm going to torture her when she wakes up.' He watched her for a few moments, she breathed very softly, disturbing a stray lock of hair so it moved back and forth with her breathing. He brushed it aside, admiring her hair. It was about the same length as his, and so very strange; it was the exact hue of rose gold; tumbling across the couch on which she lay in majestic waves. It seemed almost too grand for her face, which was very pale. Her heart shaped face was donned with a pair long-lashed eyes, currently closed, and a set of sugary pink lips.

He stared intently at her lips, so full, so perfect. Yummy…

"What are you doing?" The fox jerked. The black winged demon was bent over him, staring at him as hard as he was staring at her. Youko stuttered for a moment, "I-uh…uh…" Koronue raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm going to leave you to your 'uh-ing'…Pervert."

 "Oh, shut up."

(Flash back)

Alone the girl stood. "Where am I?" she mused softly. It was dark. Not just any darkness; advanced darkness. Not even crickets chirped. The stars were shrouded. A faint light sparkled in front of her; she recognized it instantly. It was the light given off when a light is reflected off the back of a retina. She was looking at a pair of eyes. She drew her breath.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. I couldn't in this form any way." A voice said soothingly. A figure began to glow, giving off enough light to cast ghostly shadows on the grass. The figure was slightly transparent, as if it were a ghost. The female wanted to run, but was rooted down. The figure took a few steps closer to her, offering her a transparent hand. "See for yourself." She slowly reached for his hand, her fingers passing through his. "Don't be afraid, I am here to help you." She looked confused. The figure swept off his cloak and revealed his face.

He was tall and bronze, with dark hair and eyes. His features were similar to her own: strongly built, but graceful, untamable hair and a childish sparkle in his eyes.

"I have to give you something, it will protect you here." He held out his hands, though she could not touch them. Something truly solid fell from between his fingers. "It takes a great deal of energy to transport things between worlds." He explained. She picked up what had fallen. It was a simple metal sphere pendant. She put it on reluctantly; as it dropped onto her chest; it rang out like a bell. Spiffy! 'Why am I here? Where is here?' she thought. The man smiled gently, "You meet your other half here." He answered her thoughts. She gave him a queer look and took a step back.

Waving his hand in front of her eyes, he murmured some words she didn't understand. Falling over side ways, she was in a deep sleep. The man took off his transparent cloak, made it solid, and let it fall over her. "I'll watch over you from time to time, little one." And he disappeared.

(End flash back)

The fox had waited by her side patiently. She was beginning to come to; she touched her forehead and sat up. "Welcome back Tou-Koushin (sugar-lips)." He crooned; she jerked, seizing her cloak and inching away from him. Koronue walked into the room, "She awake?"

She jumped up and pressed herself against the wall behind her, trying to look as small as possible. Her rosy blonde waves fell across her face, hiding her. The thieves advanced on her. Koronue stopped; he grabbed his friend's shoulder. "This isn't the right one."

"What?"

"She isn't the one who rescued us."

"Are you crazy, of course she is, she has the scent and the cloak."

"Look closer." Youko closed the space between himself and the girl. Her eyes glittered at him, in the most brilliant shade of green he had ever seen. He was looking down at her, for she was an inch or so shorter than him. Shorter…

"She's too short to be the one."

"Exactly, and too slender. You've bagged yourself an imposter. She has the cloak with someone else's scent on it."

"Where did you get that cloak, Tou-Koushin?" Youko turned back to her. She shrugged, her fear melting away. "So what do we do with her now? She is of no use to us." The fox sighed, waving his tail in a tired sort of way. The girl reached up and poked one of his ears curiously. He snatched her wrist and drew it away. "What are you doing?"

She blushed and looked away. She had never seen such enchanted creatures before. "You want to see them?" he leaned forward. She blushed, her fingers hovering in front of her lips. "Don't be afraid Tou-Kou, I won't bite you."

Koronue started to laugh; feeling much more friendly with her new nickname, she touched his ears again. The silvery fur was soft on her fingertips, the fox closed his eyes for a moment, she thought she heard a small purr and let her hand fall. Tou-Kou blushed furiously. Youko picked her up, "Can we keep her?"==

"As long as she's house trained…" --;

"Yay!"

"This is on your head!"

Youko did a dance people rarely see when he is happy. Tou-Kou gave him a look as if to say, "What am I, a puppy?" He stopped and put her down. "You haven't said a word since you woke up, what is your name, human girl?"

Tou-Kou smiled shyly and said nothing. The thieves raised an eyebrow, "Hey, Koronue, lets tickle her till she talks." Her eyes went wide. A blonde streak floored Koronue and Youko, scrambled out the door and skittered madly down the labyrinth of halls. The chase was on.

      Angsty chap coming up.

      R&R