ON WITH THE NEXT CHAPTERS! Btw, if anyone knows how to spell "Suichi" CORRECTLY, please let me know. I have absolutely no idea what the right spelling is… I've seen Shuichi, Shuuichi, Shuiichi, ect… but I don't know which one it is! It's upsetting when people yell at you for bad spelling when it's not really your fault… oh, I went out on a limb and did something WHACK. I put in a completely Japanese sentence in here… if it's wrong (which it probably is…) PLEASE let me know how to correctly put it. I used an English-Japanese dictionary, and that's what I'm using to teach myself the language, so blah blah blah about my bad grammar in another language…
Key:
(….) Thinking (Btw all thinking is in PRESENT-TENSE!)
('….') Youko thinking/talking to Suichi
'….' Youko talking out loud
(/…./) Youko/Hiei/Taelia talking telepathically (P.S. You guys are smart people, you can figure out the punctuation. Lol just kidding, but I can't put the ending because my stupid spelling and grammar checking will say its wrong and then I get a little screwed up… heh… it should be a little obvious as to what the punctuation is. If you can't figure it out then tell me which ones that you didn't get and I'll send you them with the punctuation. All transactions ARE via email.)
Chapter 7
Youko's view
I concentrated my energy and made it appear as if I was a normal human. Well, not exactly. I retained my unnatural moon-silver hair and my amber gold eyes. Confident that Shiori was in her bed, I crept out to the front door to meet Ty. Hiei appeared beside me after I had gotten to the door. He was sporting the new ward proudly.
(/Hiei/)
(/Yes fox/)
(/Do you have the Hoshi-no-tama with you/)
(/Yes. It's safely tucked into my Dragon ward. It's not coming out/)
(/Good. I do not wish to impose its presence upon you, but it is not safe to leave a Hoshi-no-tama any where without protection. If in hands other than the receiver it could be used against both giver and receiver/)
(/I told you I would never let it be taken from me. You shouldn't worry about such things, fox; it's not good for you/)
(/You must understand, Hiei, that if anyone beside us has it, then they will have complete control over me. That is the main reason that I kept it. And there is no room for mistake; the stone is a part of me, so I would not be able to break free of its control. I would be completely vulnerable if it is not with you, open to any attack/)
(/Then why were you planning to sell it/)
(/Ningens have no understanding of a Hoshi-no-tama and what it is capable of. I would not be under any real threat, but as a precaution I would have taken it back after I collected the money/)
(/Cunning as ever… you really know how to preserve your well-being Youko, I must give you that/)
(/Being born and raised in such a hostile environment as the Makai does that to a demon. Also, you do remember that I am the legendary Spirit Fox, the Master Thief, so it was imperative to my survival that I learn the art of self-preservation well. But that has changed. I would do anything to protect the ones I care for, even give my life and you know it/)
(/Onaji kurai shita mono datta watashi, watashi no kitsune, onaji kurai shita mono datta watashi (1)/)
A loud noise interrupted our conversation. We were now halfway to the park, standing on the bridge. Ty brought out the offending object and opened it.
"What is it Botan? It had better be good, because we are in the middle of an important discussion." ('An important discussion?')
(/She wants to know why we were hugging, and that when she kissed you, she could taste me on your lips, Suichi. You could have figured that out yourself, I know it/)
(/I personally knew, but Suichi didn't until now/)
(/Why? You are supposed to share all thoughts/)
(/Ha ha ha! Hiei, you must realize that we are two separate people, though we do share some characteristics. He is only similar to me, not the same/)
(/Sneaky fox trying to trick me into thinking that you were one and the same… Cunning bastard/)
(/Trying, Hiei? No, it's more like tricking you. I've already done it; you just didn't realize it… and I must say there is no need for such language/)
(/Feh… baka kitsune… I hate you, you know/)
(/Really? When did this happen? The last time I checked, you were begging me to say I love you, not I hate you… be careful of the knowledge we share, for I can twist it and turn it against you with ease/)
"Hello? Youko, are you even there? Damn, you must really be out of it today. First you're letting Hiei cuddle you like a fucking teddy bear, next you're standing in the middle of a bridge staring at him like you guys are having a deep conversation! Jesus Christ, Youko!" Ty ranted at me. I cringed inwardly; it was not good to make this pyro-ice fox mad, even if it is I who am the cause.
"Will you shut up, Ty?" Hiei growled, "I'm listening to you!" ('Thank Inari that he's here…') "If you must know, I'm telling Youko what I know about the mission, onna ko no baka…"
"I AM NOT A STUPID GIRL! Just because you are a male fire demon doesn't mean that you have the right to degrade me like that you jackass! And why the hell didn't you tell me that! It would've saved me a bit of time."
"Shut up for a minute, will you!" ('Hiei's getting angry… I hope this doesn't turn out too bad… I need to say something…') "If you knew half as…" I cleared my throat, cutting Hiei off from his rant. They both glared at me. (Come on, Youko! All you could think of was to clear your throat to get their attention! 'Be quiet Suichi! I'm thinking!' Fine, then I'll say something… 'No!')
'Ty, what did…'
Chapter 8
Ty disappeared off the bridge. Her voice resounded shrilly in my ears, speaking loudly and angrily in them.
"Don't change the subject, Youko! What the hell are you trying to hide! Tell me, you impudent fox!" I bent my ears back and winced openly. Hiei looked to me in concern.
"What did she say?" ('Oh, I forgot that he doesn't understand "Kitsune"… oh well… I'll have to teach him later.')
'She said, "Don't change the subject, Youko! What the hell are you trying to hide! Tell me, you impudent fox!" But now she's gone, so I can't tell her.'
"I'll find out! Later, during the mission! You will not evade my hunt, Youko!" Hiei raised his eyebrow as I winced again. ('I really need to teach him soon…')
'She screeched, "I'll find out! Later, during the mission! You will not evade my hunt, Youko!" We have to tell her, Hiei. No matter what happens.' He just nodded and continued to stare at my head. I realized that, in my confusion, I had miraculously re-grown my ears and tail. I quickly masked them. ('Thank Inari it's night, or I would be the picture of human television for years…')
(/Thank you, Hiei, for notifying me that I had lost concentration/)
With that I started walking to the Reikei portal again. Hiei decided to flit off for a few seconds, leaving me to muse on recent events a little. ('Ty seems almost too upset about not knowing what is happening for her own good… It is possible that, knowing her, she's already figured it out, but has yet to accept it. Just like her… almost… too much like her… could it be? No. Ty is not a traitor, nor an impostor. She can't be Yanagisuwa, as I know how to discern him now. Her energy was too high to be that for Yana. Strange though how much Ty is being herself… Ah, Hiei is back…') Hiei landed in front of me with his sword drawn. With his back to me he started talking.
"Whoever you are come out now." His arm started to burn the ward that covered it. ('The dragon… wants … to be released… strange…') A blast of energy came out of the darkness, heading for Hiei head-on. ('This isn't good… Hiei, move!') Hiei swept his sword back, flipped it, and cut through the blast. ('He… split… the blast… in two pieces…') He put his katana away and took off his jacket. His energy flared suddenly, revealing the Dragon that slept beneath the burnt ward. He charged his energy and let the Dragon fly true unto our "unwanted visitor". ('I assume it found its target… judging of course by the scream that was cut surprisingly short… but now Hiei will be out of energy. I need him to be there when I tell Ty. The "visitor" must have proved a great threat, enough to force Hiei to use the Dragon…') The Dragon returned itself to his arm. In its grasp I saw a faint glimmer of silver, but then it disappeared. I ran over to him, ready to catch him as he fell, but he didn't. He walked over to his jacket, put it on, and came back over to me. His eyes showed nothing of fatigue or sleepiness in them, only that fierce and judging gaze of crimson red. Hiei stared at me, possibly wondering why I was staring at him so intently first.
'Hiei?'
"Yes?"
'Do you feel… tired, or exhausted?'
"No…" It dawned on him, "How… I just used the Dragon of The Darkness Flame, and I'm not out of energy!" He looked at his arm and realized that the Dragon was no longer running haywire without a ward to contain it. Then he noted the Hoshi-no-tama pendant I had given him. It was embedded into his skin, in the Dragon's forehead. Well, that's to say at least the stone was. The pendant was held in the beast's right front claw. I stared at the stone in wonder. ('That's why he isn't falling asleep right now… our power must be linked through the stone. And with the power of two S-class demons fueling the Dragon, Hiei can use it an almost infinite number of times without having to "hibernate"… and the Hoshi-no-tama keeps it under control so much that you can't sense a drop of its energy… well, this is an interesting improvement…') I reached out and touched the stone.
Enter the mind of the Dragon, Youko, Spirit Fox. She awaits your company in Her great darkness and power. See through Her eyes the burden She bears for your lover.
I found myself inside a giant hall of Haze stones. The kind that I used to steal before I was forced to hide here in Ningenkai. (Wait. I'm not in Ningenkai at the moment; I'm in the Dragon's mind… and apparently Her domain… I had better be careful.)
(/There is no reason to worry, my dear Youko, my Spirit Fox of silver and amber gold, for I am your friend and protector. I have been with you since the day Hiei had the Jagan implanted into his forehead. He has liked you for a long time… it was I who told him of your feelings. You keep so much from him… he is what you are, and will understand you if you tell him… but I will not impose any sudden and difficult decisions upon you yet. You do not fully trust him yet, but you trust him enough to give him your Star-ball, and I understand that, from one of your past, that to trust someone fully takes time. Also, from past experience you want to trust him completely and to have his complete loyalty/)
The sultry voice lingered for a second, then vanished.
'Tell me, if you are truly the Dragon of The Darkness Flame, why have you chosen Hiei and I to protect? Is it not true that you are a ruthless and unruly creature?'
(/Youko my kit, I am a female. I cannot be ruthless and unruly. But, it is true that I have devoured several of my past "owners", though not without veritable cause. Hiei is one of the few who change from their wicked ways to become doers of good and that have true honour. You are another. The others were only using me for their sick desires, for to control the Dragon is to control females. They use my power to get company, because they are too disgusting and low to get it themselves. And thus, I devoured them to become my slaves in Hell. Hiei has proven himself immune to pleasurable company that requires fame and fortune to attain. And besides, the only one he has ever wanted for company is you Youko. He neither requires nor wants a companion that is nothing less than who you are. In his eyes you are the world. His home is your home, wherever you find peace, and I wish to let him be happy. That is why I have chosen you two lovers as my charges. I enjoy making Hiei feel wanted, because of his ugly past, and the same for you, my kit/)
'Well then, that explains quite a bit. But how is it that you are female? Tales tell of a ruthless male black dragon that was sent to the pits of Hell for attempting to woo the Spirit World into his control. Are you not that dragon?'
(/You are a very inquisitive kitsune. I respect your sense of knowledge. I am female because that is what I am. The dragon you refer to is my twin brother, but he lives in Hell. I control it. I am the one who trapped him for the White Dragon. The White Dragon and I are lovers. Also, my brother is the Netherworld dragon. He is the one the tales speak of. They speak sparingly of me, for not many know my true nature. I am a fierce opponent when fighting because it is my instinct to fight in that manner. I am a mother, and motherly instincts demand ultimate protection of her children and charges/)
'Well, I must leave now. We have to be at the Reikei portal before the rest of the group starts to get curious.'
(/There's really no need to leave now, Youko. You are already there. We can speak for eternity and you would still be "conscious"/)
'I really must be off, my Dragon Queen.'
(/Alright, but please Youko, call me Taelia. That is my name/)
'Good-bye, Taelia. I hope to speak with you again soon.' And with that I was back at the Spirit World portal, getting ready to go to Koenma's office.
T.K.: Inari I sound like a flippin' bank recording at the top… oh well. I must go now, the muse demands that we go and see War of The Worlds today… Ja ne 'till next chapters!
"Guide":
(1) As would I, my fox, as would I.