...hello, I'm Youko Kurama, formerly known as Shuuichi Minamino. I suppose this is my chapter of Hidden Pasts, and Rena warned me what would happen should I fail to write a good chapter. –ears flatten against head- A fate worse than death, I assure you. So, on with the chapter, lest I suffer Rena's wrath.

My Youko father is what humans like to call a conservative, meaning he's strongly opposed to homosexuals and same-sex unions. This proved problematic for me, as I grew and found that I was attracted to males. He also strongly thought that all women belong in the kitchen, and children, above all, must obey their parents. When I was about four, I kissed my cousin. We were just experimenting, practicing for when we grew up. Father saw us, and I was disowned immediately. Mother cried for me, but Father had her in an iron fist, so to speak. When I was five, I was bitten by a black widow spider. I fell very ill, very quickly, and I remember vividly being picked up in strong arms.

"You're going to be ok." My savior said comfortingly. I lost consciousness.

I awoke eight weeks later in a hospital room, old and wizened Youkos sitting all around me.

"Hello, little one." One of the Youkos said, patting my hand.

"My name is Yoshimori Higen." Another said. "Yours is...?"

"I'm Kurama." I said hoarsely.

"Of the great Kessari's line?" I nodded slowly after a pause. Kessari, one of the greatest thieves ever, was my great-great-great-grandfather. The Youkos began whispering amongst themselves.

"He's of Kessari's line, all right. I'd know those eyes anywhere." One whispered.

"Then he's got the instincts and the power: all he needs is to learn how to use it."

"But he's a year young yet. We can't start teaching him until he's six."

"Then we'll say he's six. One of Kessari's line on our side would be valuable. We can't risk him getting away."

"Alright."

"Higen-san?" I asked softly.

"Yes, Kurama-kun?" He responded.

"May I have some water?" I asked.

"Certainly." Higen said, snapping his fingers once. A crow demon came into the room.

"Yes, how can Miki help Master?" She asked.

"Kurama wishes for a glass of water."

"As Master commands." Miki left the room and came back moments later with a glass of water. She handed it to me and left the room. I drained the glass quickly.

"Kurama?" Higen asked. "Would you be willing to come study at my school for thieving arts? There's no tuition, and room and board is free until you graduate."

"Ok!" Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

My first classes were a week later. There were your basic classes; reading, language arts, and mathematics, but there were also three other classes you never see in the human world for the simple reason that they're illegal: Respect and How to Demand It, Pickpocketing 101, and How to Get What You Want by Swindling. I also had an extra class that was meant to help me harness my gift with plants. My schedule changed when I was 87 (actual not equivalent years), and Pickpocketing 101 and How to Get What You Want by Swindling were traded for How to Pull Off a Big Heist, and How to Use People Surreptitiously. I also began sparring in my private lessons. I was given a choice of various human world plants, and could only pick one. My first spar, I fought a feral yet so weak it was practically harmless lower D class (D-) demon. I was already middle C class (C) by this time. I'd never actually fought before, so I was so scared during this fight that I was about ready to pee myself. I grabbed a plant without looking, then saw it was a red rose.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked, running away from the demon.

"You chose it." My tutor replied.

"Can I please switch?" I asked.

"No." I accidentally pricked myself with a thorn of the rose, and so an idea struck me.

"Rose Whip!" I shouted, concentrating my ki into the rose, which I swung at the demon. Petals flew everywhere, and the stem of the rose extended into a long, flexible whip. The whip whistled through the air and struck the demon in the head, killing it instantly.

"Incredible." My tutor gasped. "I've never seen anything like it." I just flopped onto my back, heart pounding in my chest and adrenaline pumping through my veins. After a five minute recovery time, I was given more docile botanic tasks, such as mixing potions.

When I was 100, I was walking to my fighting lessons when I saw a figure dressed in heavy black clothes, complete with hood and veil, struggling to keep up with a white-haired, brown-eyed youko. The youko turned on the figure, a knife in his hand.

"Keep up, you miserable sot!" The youko yelled. "I'll kill you like you killed my brother!" The knife came down, and without thinking I used my rose whip to disarm the youko. I ran over to the robed figure.

"Are you alright?" The figure remained silent. I turned on the youko.

"How dare you lay a hand on him!" I growled, eyes blazing with fury. The youko was pale, wide-eyed, and sweating.

"It's the ghost of Kessari!" He yelled.

"My name is Kurama. Don't you ever forget." I growled, creating a small dagger from a bamboo twig and holding it to his throat. "Ever." I turned and walked away mouthing one word to the robed figure:

"Escape."

My classes continued until I was 200, then I graduated at the top of my class. All graduates are given a crow demon or a bat demon for a slave. I chose a return named Kuronue for the sole reason that he deserved to be set free. We were equals, partners, and friends. You know the rest of the story.

-Youko Kurama

9/1/04 12:55 a.m.