Hey, sorry for the wait…. also, this chapter is short, but I'm sorry this is harder to write than I had thought.

 Just a note: I know Kurama is, like, a hundred some years older than Kuronue, but I'm kind of ignoring that for now. lol. I'm sorry if that bothers anyone. 

I don't own yu yu hakusho

Chapter 8

Blackmail and Kidnapping

Kuronue looked out at the forest his family had been staying in. For the first time he was truly happy. Kuronue smiled and let the soft breeze brush his hair. He looked up to the clear azure sky.

His mother watched him closely. She was glad that Kuronue was safe and happy, but something bothered her. The small family had been visited by a suspicious gray kitsune called Maverik. The strange fox seemed especially interested in little Kuronue. Kuro was smart, but he was still very young. Kuronue's mother heard something behind her, back by where her husband was. She glanced at Kuronue, then went to investigate. Without warning, someone grabbed her, covering her mouth.

Kuronue glanced around. There was no sign of anything in the quiet forest. He turned and walked back toward his family's small camp.

"Mother? Father?" he called.

There was no answer.

Kuronue looked around, his violet-blue eyes wide. "Mother! Father!"

"They won't answer you."

Kuronue whirled to face the voice. Leaning against a tree behind him was Maverik, the gray kitsune. Kuronue took a step back.

"Wha-Where are my parents?" Kuronue asked fearfully.

"They are alive. And if you do what I ask, they will be fine," Maverik said.

Kuronue took another step back. What could this kitsune want from him? Fear kept him from thinking straight. He was only a child!

"Well?" Maverik asked.

"I…" Kuronue managed. He was too afraid to say any more.

Suddenly, Kuronue was lifted into the air. The little winged demon squeaked and twisted, trying to get free.

"Now, now, little one, we don't want any trouble," said a cold voice from the demon holding Kuronue.

Kuronue looked up at his captor. The demon was tall and thin and pale. His eyes were pure black and his long braided hair was blood red. He gave a small, wicked smile. Kuronue gave another little squeak.

"We don't have to worry about this one," the demon said. "Will we, Kuronue?"

The only reply Kuronue could manage was a final small squeak.

*                                                                      *                                                                                              *

Kurama stood close beside Lana Since the run in with Maverik, Kurama had been very anxious. He refused to leave his sister's side. Lana didn't blame him; the way Maverik had looked at the little kitsune unnerved her.

"Hey, Kurama, I'm going to get some water from the river, okay?" Lana said to her brother as they relaxed at their small camp. Kurama nodded, not looking up from the crimson rose he was playing with. Lana hesitated, watching the little kit gently examine the rose. She smiled and left for the river. She stayed there for a moment, enjoying the sunshine.

Lana came back to the camp to find Kurama gone. She looked around quickly, calling the kitsune's name. Her eyes fell on the blood red rose, lying near where her brother had been. Lana knelt next to the rose and lifted it into her hands. The rose was crushed, the petals torn and the stem broken.

"Kurama!" Lana cried, still cradling the rose in her hands. "Kuramaa!"

*                                                                                  *                                                                                  *

The little kitsune struggled against the iron grip of his captor. He gave a small whimper when the demon gripped his arm hard enough to bruise. Kurama wondered where Lana was. Why hadn't she come to help him?

Kurama was dropped to the ground. The little kits ears drooped a little. He looked up to see a familiar gray kitsune. Maverik! Kurama's wide gold eyes looked around. He was Maverik and, behind him, a demon with crimson hair and black eyes and…a little demon behind Maverik. He looked a little younger than Kurama. His hair came to just below his shoulders and was jet black. He had small, black wings at his back. His wide blue-violet eyes reflected the same fear Kurama felt. Kurama turned back to Maverik. He had to be brave, for his sister.

"What…what do you want?" Kurama asked.

"Just your cooperation…Not that you have much of a choice," Maverik said.

Kurama swallowed hard. He did not like this.

*                                                                                  *                                                                                  *

Kurama sat next to the young winged demon. They'd been sitting there for almost fifteen minutes. Neither had the bravery to talk. Maverik and the other demon had disappeared. Kurama finally turned to the little demon.

"My name is Kurama."

The winged demon blinked. "I'm Kuronue."

Kurama blinked also. "Kur- Kuro- Kuronue?"

Kuronue laughed at the way the kitsune had mispronounced his name. Kurama fumed a moment, not liking being laughed at. "I'll call you Kuro," he announced finally.

Kuronue nodded. He stopped suddenly. "You look like him."

"Who?"

"Maverik," Kuronue said in a quiet, almost timid voice.

Kurama blinked. He supposed they did look alike…they were both kitsunes.

"You don't act like him, though," Kuronue continued. "You're nice. Do you want to be friends?"

Kurama smiled. "Alright."

The two new friends smiled.

"Um… So why are you with Maverik anyway?"  Kurama asked suddenly.

Kuronue looked a little downcast. "He's got my parents."

"I'm sorry," Kurama said. He knew what it was like, to lose ones parents.

The two sat in silence again for some time.

"I wonder what Maverik's gonna have us do," Kuronue said finally.

*                                                                                  *                                                                                  *

Maverik looked out over the forest from his perch in a tree. He smiled to himself. Things were going perfectly. The other demon stood on a branch nearby, his blood red hair drifting with the breeze.

"Neturan, tell me again why we must use these children to get the eight Binding Stones," Maverik said.

The red haired demon, Neturan, smiled and closed his eyes. "The eight Stones of Binding have the power to control everything. The stones of Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Spirit, Strength, Courage, and Heart balance and bind every part of our world. Only those with an innocent heart can retrieve the Stones from their resting places. Those children will get the Stones for us."

"Then we will use the Cayori flute to unlock the Stones power," Maverik said, pulling a bone flute out of his pack. The flute was decorated with carvings of bamboo along the head joint, and roses and thorns around the end.

"First we must find one who can play he flute," Neturan reminded him.

Maverik smiled. "That should be no problem. The flute must be played by one of pure heart as well, correct?"

Neturan nodded.

"Then we shall have on of the children play it."

"If they can," Neturan muttered. To Maverik he said, "You have this all planned out, don't you?" He smiled.

"I have to," the gray kitsune replied, smirking.

All right…that wasn't to too short, right? In any case, there is obviously more to come. Please review….reviews make me happy.