Mayumi honed her skills via her bow and arrow. There was something about it, maybe it was the fact that it took skill to wield and use or that she thought it made her look dangerous, whatever the reason her heart fluttered whenever she scored a perfect hit with her arrow. Hand to hand combat however was just as fun she had found. Kurama had taken her to the ningen kai where she had learned martial arts from a human, a real human! That had amazed her since she had only heard of them before. She had stayed with Tetsuo Totoyama until he went to Rei kai. He had become a good friend to her and his passing saddened her it also made her realize how short human life was. When she and Tetsuo first met he was a young man, very handsome for a human as well. However in a mere fifty years he aged tremendously. The only thing that remained the same was his eyes, those light blue eyes that Mayumi could only see in her dreams now. After his passing Mayumi left back for the Makai, her home. In the short while she had been gone Kurama had developed quite the following and now led an infamous band of thieves whom he wanted Mayumi to join. Mayumi plopped down on her bed to ponder his offer. She ran a hand through her bangs and sighed.
"What to do?" She said aloud covering her eyes with her hands. She was already trained in the art of scouting as well as reading maps and trade routes but to actually plunder? Could she do it? Tetsuo had made it very clear on more than one occasion not to fall prey to the kitsunes charm.
"That fox is dangerous Mayumi. Don't fall victim to his wiles. He is cunning and always gets what he wants. You'd do good to severe all ties with him as soon as possible." Tetsuo had said on only her second night of staying with him.
"You don't know him. What could you know about him?"
"I know enough Mayu. Listen to me, your loving kitsune murdered my family in cold blood for a sacred scroll that belonged to my father. He kept me alive to be his personal slave so to say to do what he wants when he wants." Tetsuo had said and looked away somewhat ashamed, why Mayumi never found out. But she had found out that Yoko Kurama was not the wonderful gentlemen he had first been. Mayumi found him to be cruel, manipulative and oh so very dangerous, and Mayumi liked it. She had decided after Rin died that that was how she was to be. That if she had been the one feared then no harm would have to come to the little girl but she had been soft, weak, it was her fault.
Mayumi reached under her pillow and grabbed the fortress map that Yoko and the group were going after that night. She looked it over, seemed simple enough for the most
part. Perfect for getting your feet wet with. Mayumi stood up folding the map to tie in the small bag she kept strapped to her waist. She gathered her quiver tieing the leather strap in front of her and grabbed her arrows.
Mayumi could hear Kurama and the others below her from her perch in the trees. Her job for the evening was sniper girl. The thought of killing again both scared and excited her. She couldn't wait until Kurama gave his signal for her to take out the guards that were perched in the towers. It would be easy since she had become quite good at rapid fire where she could draw and send flying up to six arrows in a matter of twenty seconds. She grinned but it quickly faded as she heard the whispers of the men below her.
"That girl is useless. She's going to end up getting us killed!"
"What do you mean?"
"What you actually think that she's done shit like this before? She's a damned rookie."
"Knowing bitches like I do that one up there will probably start giggling or some shit and give us away."
Mayumi felt enraged. How dare they underestimate Mayumi Taisho. They would pay! She grabbed an arrow to shoot down upon them, not caring about the repercussions she would suffer later, when a deep voice spoke in her defense.
"What the hell are you talking about this is only your third night out. Besides that's no way to talk about a lady." Mayumi watched him as he put the men back in their place and resumed his next to Yoko. She had been introduced to Yomi earlier in the evening and had felt her knees weaken the moment their eyes met. It was strange the way he made her felt and she could tell he felt the same. Her pulse quickened as he defended her from them and she felt herself begin to sweat. Her mind wandered everywhere except to the matter at hand, so much so that she almost missed Yoko's signal. She only saw it because she was staring at Yomi. Mayumi drew an arrow slowly from the quiver on her back and steadied it against her bow slowly pulling back the string. All she needed was a moments time to get her bearings, to make a crisp clean shot after that it would be clear sailing. Her small hands shook at the resistance of the bow with each passing moment. She had a clear shot so why couldn't she let go? She didn't understand, her brain told her to just let go but her fingers would not. She felt a hot lash fall upon her arm forcing her to let go of the arrow. Her arm burned as she clumsily grabbed for another arrow. Now she had no choice she had to kill them all. One after the other she drew her arrows and released not watching where they were going only focusing on the towers and not on the occupants. Mayumi looked down at her arm after her deed was done to see a vine wrapped around it. It's thorns sunk deep into her flesh. The vine tightened even more around her and lashed down. Mayumi's eyes grew wide as it pulled her down and she fell hard upon the ground. She sat for a moment stunned before looking up to see a very angry fox demon.
"If you ever hesitate like that again it will be your funeral Ami." Yoko said coarsely. Ami was the name she had chosen for herself when she was out only for the time being lest she make a mistake and the name Mayumi Taisho would be tainted.
"Sorry. I just…I couldn't…that is I…"
"Shut your mouth girl and be on your feet. There is much to and little time. Yomi you pair with Ami. Make sure she does not hesitate." Kurama said and was off in a flash followed by the others leaving her with Yomi. He extended his hand down to her smiling handsomely.
"Need a hand?" He asked simply. Mayumi nodded once before accepting it. He helped her to her feet and drew a sword.
"You know how to use that thing right?" Mayumi asked. Yomi nodded still smiling.
"You do know how to fight right?" He asked. Mayumi nodded running swiftly towards the fortress.
Once inside Mayumi did not hesitate. The looks of pure hatred on those faces that she encountered was truly frightening but she did not fall prey to it as she would have done years earlier perhaps even a few hours earlier. Mayumi punched and kicked all the while haunted by Tetsuo's face when he was young and handsome. He shook his head at her sadly before long she couldn't see it anymore, it simply faded into the back of her memory where she kept her darling Mio. Before long she was side by side with Yomi in a great hall decorated with many ornamental swords hanging high upon the stone walls. Yomi whistled in amazement.
"Wow. Those have got to be worth something." He said walking over to grab a few. Mayumi caught a glimmer from the corner of her eye. She slowly turned her head to see a katana hanging from the wall. She walked over to it grabbing it to look at the ornaments on the sheath. She traced over the crimson wings with her finger tips. What small creature it was she had seen only once when she was in the ningen kai, what had Tetsuo called it? She remembered how frail and graceful it had seemed to her. For some odd reason she felt that she would be connected to this little insect and a katana but not for an extremely long time. She tied the katana to her side and motioned for Yomi to exit.
"If we take too much Yoko will become angry." She said quietly. Yomi looked over at her seemingly agitated.
:I don't care what he says. I'm not disposable and neither are you so have no fear sweet Ami." Yomi said sweetly before running past her down the narrow hall way that lay before her. Mayumi smiled slightly. He was flirting with her. She liked it, she liked him. She ran closely behind him until the hall way split into two separate ways. One most likely would be a dead end, the other either an exit or what they were seeking. Mayumi quickly took out her map and scanned it quickly.
"This way." She said pointing to the left.
"That's the dead end." Yomi said tracing his finger on the drawing.
"If you were designing a fortress map that was laden with valuables would you draw up a correct map?" She asked him ready to win this fight.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Well I don't know for certain but I know what I would do." She stated and bounded to her left praying that she was right. She heard footsteps behind her and knew they were Yomi's with out even glancing back. He trusted her, that was good. Within a few minutes or maybe it had been longer than that she didn't really know there was a light at the end and in the door way stood none other than Yoko Kurama.
"Well your still alive I see." He said glancing at Mayumi as she passed by him.
"Where are the others?" Yomi asked. Yoko shrugged.
"Couldn't keep up I suppose." He said.
"They were useless anyway. There are much better we just have to look." Yomi said. Mayumi stood with her mouth open in surprise. The treasure room made her and Yoko's residence look like a paupers shack. Gold and silver bricks shone brightly under the torch lights surrounded by diamonds, rubies, emeralds and much more that Mayumi had never seen before. Gowns made from silk, velvet and so many others. Mayumi walked over to a particularly beautiful dress picking it up in her hands. To wear something like that would truly make her feel like a princess. Yomi came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He leaned close to her ear.
"One day I will be a lord and rule over all. You shall be my lady Ami. Together we will be unstoppable." He whispered softly. Mayumi turned her face slightly until her lips nearly touched his.
"Mayumi." She whispered to him feeling the angry look that Kurama was sending towards them. Yomi smiled getting even closer to her.
"Lady Mayumi." He said.
"Are you two done yet?" He asked irritated.
"Done already?" Yomi asked indicating the large book that Yoko held in his hand.
"For quite some time now." He said flatly staring at Mayumi. She glared back at him not really caring what he was thinking or what he would say to her later on.
Yomi bid the two good night and ran off to wherever leaving her to Yoko's wrath.
"You will not act like that ever again!" He shouted angrily once they were inside.
"It's none of your god damn business how I act with whom!" She yelled back.
"I will not have you gallivanting around making a whore of yourself!"
"How am I a whore? He showed more interest in me than you ever have!"
"I know how you let Tetsuo touch you."
"Only once and that was a long time ago! How the hell do you know about that anyway?"
"Tetsuo told me everything. Didn't he ever tell you?" Mayumi shook her head slowly. Yoko grinned evily and looked down upon her arrogantly.
"I was his master and he obeyed my every command." Yoko spat out. Mayumi only looked at him confused.
"Ha. You are still that stupid little girl from the forest. Let's just say when it comes to my lovers, I'm not picky about gender." He said. Mayumi became enraged. She clenched her fists and teeth together.
"You bastard! How could you do that to Tetsuo? He deserved better than you!"
"There is no better than me Mayumi Taisho and you had better learn that quickly."
"I am not your puppet! You cannot control me!"
"Oh, really? Well I thought I already did."
"Like hell you do!"
"Please don't give me that crap Mayu. If I say jump what do you do?"
"Not anymore." She said spinning around and storming angrily away.
"If you leave it is over. My protection will be kifted from you and I cannot say I will not be the one to harm you." Yoko called out after her. Mayumi glanced at him. Cocky bastard was sitting in his chair with that stupid grin in his face.
"Is that a threat Yoko?"
"Take it how you want to." Mayumi contemplated for a moments time before walking away.
The warm night air surrounded her and made her feel relaxed. She didn't need Yoko to protect her. She would become stronger and show him that she was not just some stupid little girl from the forest. Mayumi walked along a path slowly before catching wind of a scent. A very familiar scent that she knew from her happier days.
"It couldn't be." She said running off in that direction. She ran for what seemed forever until she came to a clearing where a young man stood in the dead center of it. Mayumi stopped running and stared at him curiously. His hair color had darkened some but still had traced of blue in it making it appear bruised. Much longer than she remembered but it had been a well over a century since she had last seen him. He turned feeling her gaze more than likely and they stared at each other. His violet eyes sparkled as brightly as any star in the sky. Masyumi's heart pounded as recognition sprung into his stolid expression.
"Mayu? Mayumi? Is..is that you?
"Yes Mio it is me."