Chapter 9

Lesson 4: If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

Sounds of wood on wood echoed in the remote forest. Shouts of encouragement mixed with laughter and a small number of short screams. In a clearing deep in the forest, away from prying eyes, the grass had been worn short, but sprang back sturdily. Many weeks had passed since the beginning of training.

"Don't back away so much; you can never defeat an opponent if you run from him." Koronue instructed. The ningen had undergone brutal exercises day in and day out. Trekking through the wilderness, learning to sleep in trees, and of course, how to fight. Koronue thought it was necessary to teach her to kill, but Youko stated she was too pure for thoughts like that and put his foot/paw down.

Tou-Kou was practicing using a wooden staff. She was improving at an incredible rate, but she was still decorated along her backside with pretty bruises. Koronue taught with wisdom and care, but no mercy. They held their staffs like swords and dueled. "Keep your thumbs straight along the staff, never wrapped around; you know that already!" he made a move as if to behead her if he had a real sword, but she countered, knocking it away and almost 'stabbed' him in the stomach. With a swishing flick of his wrists, he knocked her staff away from her; it flew several yards out of her hands. The bat made another move to 'slice' her down the middle; she stepped in the edge of his staff, driving it into the ground, pulled a wooden dagger from behind her and held it to his throat.

"Good, very good; always prepared for your opponent, very resourceful." Koronue put his staff down, "I'm bushed. Time for a break." She agreed by sitting down heavily. Youko clapped from his spot in a tree, "You really have improved, Tou-Kou. When we first started, he could knock you right through a tree, now you can almost knock him into a tree!"

She smiled proudly, then slipped back into her shy ways and blushed behind her hair. "Your turn, fox, I think I pulled something when she jumped on my staff." Koronue rubbed his shoulder.

 "Whiner, she isn't that heavy."

"Hai, but her legs are strong."

"So? You were going easy on her because she's just a girl!" Tou-Kou shot him a glare behind her waves but he wasn't looking.

"What does being a girl have to do with it?"

"Females are weaker, that's what." Big mistake there; indignantly, Tou-Kou stood up and punched him in the stomach as hard as she could. He made a 'hooof!' sound and fell over, holding his middle. She stomped away angrily and sat under a tree with her arms crossed and her head on her knees. Koronue started to laugh, "You really should not have said that!!" a few minutes after he got his breath back, Youko walked calmly over to where Tou-Kou was sitting.

"Is there something you wish to communicate to me?" he said dangerously. She didn't move. "I'm talking to you!" he kicked her foot. She looked up and gave him a look that said, 'You know damn well what you said and why I hit you.' She stood up and walked away again. He stopped by grabbing her shoulder; forcing her to face him, "If you need to say something, just say it. Pummeling me may make you feel better, but I can't tell what it is that made you want to beat the crap out of me."

"Remember, she doesn't speak to us? But I can fill you in-" Koronue began.

"What can you say that she can't?"

"She obviously feels insulted by that remark you made about her being the weaker sex. Am I right?" She nodded; she felt hurt, but there were no tears in her eyes this time. She had not cried since the raid.

Youko sighed and wrapped her in his arms suddenly. "Well, then, I sincerely apologize. You are made of tough stuff; I have a bruise to prove it." She squirmed and gave a short chuckle; she forgave him. He leaned his forehead on hers, "I have a lot to learn about female companionship; what and what not to say or get beaten up by someone smaller than I." This made her laugh softy.

Then something happened; they were lost in each other's gazes. Green reflected gold, and gold reflected green. Somewhere deep in their minds a new bond was formed and blazed fiercely in their bodies. They could feel each other's breath and almost taste each other's scents. Tou-Kou blushed fiercely; she could feel someone else's eyes on her.

"Are you two going to kiss or what?" Youko snapped out of the trance and let his hands fall off her.

"Shut up, Koronue."

"What? You two looked all lovey-dovey and went goo-goo when you looked at each other."

"I don't know what you are talking about." He stated hotly; he seized Tou-Kou's hand and dragged her away. "Time for your speed training." She looked back at Koronue shaking his head. Youko took her to the riverside and sat down on a rock. "Stupid Koronue doesn't know what he's talking about!" Ignoring the ranting fox, Tou-Kou put her hands in the river and washed off.

Her thoughts went back to what Koronue had said. Did she really look hypnotized? 'Hai, I was lost for a moment, probably just because he has such strange eyes. But why would he be staring at me so hard?' her thoughts were interrupted by a cool purr beside her. "You're so cute when you concentrate, what are you thinking about?" she jumped, she had completely forgotten about him. She stared at the river for a while. The fox concentrated on her, mainly her lips; they had attracted his full attention once again.  

'Yummy, must taste.' He leaned close to her face; suddenly she leaned forward and pulled a rock out of the river. His nose collided with the dirt where she once sat. Rubbing his nose gingerly, he watched her examine the shiny river stone. 'Damn it, thwarted by a rock.' He glared daggers at the innocent rock. Tou-Kou tossed her find back into the river. She sighed and leaned back on a tree trunk, closing her eyes. Folding his ears back thoughtfully, the fox began to strategize his approach. He stared hard at the girl, listing possible techniques in his head.

Take her by surprise; no she might try her new fighting moves, thinking I'm attacking her. Take her somewhere romantic and work some Youko Mojo; no, she doesn't swing like that. I have a sore cheek to prove that. Talk to her and let her know how I feel. Yeah! Females like a fox with feelings! Women are such suckers!

He scooted forward and sat next to her. "Tou-Kou, I have to tell you something important." He began. In Tou-Kou's current state of drowsiness, she only heard his voice as a droning sound with brief pauses. He clasped his hands together as if to reach some delicate subject. He breathed a deep sigh, and gathered his courage. "Over the past few weeks I've felt a sort of bond grow between us. You and I have become good friends; but I-" he stopped suddenly. A soft sound made his ears snap forward, she was snoring softly; she was asleep. He sweat dropped. Then, she fell over side ways, the side of her head landing neatly in his lap. Content with a suitable pillow, she did not move and continued sleeping.

Thirty shades of red glowed from the fox's cheeks. He hung his head; he bored her. 'Why do you have to be so innocent? I can never talk to you seriously.' He stared at her as she slept; her long bangs were in her face. He stopped and considered what might happen if her brushed them away. She was a light sleeper, but she had not been getting enough sleep lately; her training started very early every morning and deprived her of what sleep humans needed. His long fingers moved on their own accord and strummed through her bangs gently. Twitching his nose, he gathered her scent. Her distinct aroma made his tail bristle excitedly. Being very careful not to wake her, he scooped the ningen into his arms and held her close to him. His fingers moved across her face, tracing her features, touching her faint freckles. She looked so peaceful; then he stared at her lips again. 'Pink, plush, perfect.' He couldn't help himself, his face lowered to hers, closer, closer…

  Tou-Kou took a sharp breath and opened her eyes. She awoke from her nap to see Youko's face very close to her own. He froze, eyes wide. Gold reflected green; green reflected gold. She sat up, facing forward. He blushed, folding his ears back shamefully. "Sorry, I- uh…" he blushed even darker, knowing she would not respond. She stood up and walked away from him, disappearing down the path. 'You've fucked up now, fox, you've fucked up.'

Tou-Kou walked slowly back to the training field, thinking about what had happened. She knew Youko was falling for her. Why? She didn't know, but Koronue's warning rung in her ears. 'If either of us have to go through that kind of turmoil again, I'll have to kill you.' That brought a shudder. She could not get involved with him, she did not want to die, but she mostly did not want to hurt him. But feeling her heartbeat in sync to his was magical. Tou-Kou smiled, caressing her own face as he did. She had probably crushed him when she walked away. She frowned and let her hand fall, returning to the thought of breaking away. She never spoke, how could she tell him?

While she had stopped to lean against a tree, Youko had followed her back to the training grounds, talking to himself. "What did I do? I was gentle, understanding enough to know what she wants to say with out speaking, and honest to her. I really care about her, but- I have to know more…" he walked past her tree, not noticing her at all. She walked up behind him, making no noise like they had taught her. He sighed and shook his head; she watched his silky hair fall across his shoulders. He sniffed, he sniffed again; he recognized that intoxicating smell, he turned and jumped. He had not expected her to be behind him. "Tou-Kou, what-"

She put her finger on his lips, "Shhh…" he looked confused. She put her fingers over his eyes, closing them. He held onto her wrists questioningly, she held his head and kissed him passionately. His eyes flicked open for a moment, and then fell closed again. Pressing her closer, the fox deepened the kiss; at the same time his hands had a mind of their own again. His heart beat in sync with hers; he began to purr into the kiss. She began to let go, but he held her tighter. She had to turn her head away to break the kiss. Breathing heavily for a moment, they stood still, hands at rest, heads unmoving. He looked at her, his golden eyes aglow. He leaned closer to kiss her again, but her finger went to his lips again. She shook her head sadly and let him go. 'No, no more, ever again.'

Tou-Kou turned and ran down the path, past the training grounds, through the forest again, and to the hide out. Koronue stood outside as if waiting for her. He had an expression like he was going to lecture her, but said nothing. She leaned on the doorframe and stared at the ground. Koronue sighed, "He's fallen for you." She nodded, sinking to the ground.

"Do you like him back?" she started to shake her head, but stopped, looked up to him and shrugged. "That's not good." She banged her head on the doorframe repeatedly. "Hai, you screwed up big time." She glared, and then looked like she would cry. He knelt to her level and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Believe me when I say I know how you feel." She knit her brow, confused. "I don't want to talk about it." he said, almost reading her thoughts again. She sighed and went inside, avoiding all signs of life for the rest of the day.