Time went on as it usually did. Days became months and turned into years which gave way to centuries. Nearly two centuries passed before Yoko began to suspect that there was anything going on between Yomi and Mayumi but whenever it was pressed upon her by the fox she simply would deny it.

"Why would I go for such a brash, irrational fool when I have you kitsune?"

That would shut him up for a while. Yomi's attitude had changed and his all too ready willingness to fight was getting on both hers and Kurama's nerves. They both preferred stealth, the fewer confrontations that better while Yomi enjoyed the confrontations so much so that many of their talented 'employees' were being massacred.

"It has to stop Yomi. It's ridiculous the way you waste life like that. You don't care do you?" Mayumi said one night after she saved him from certain death.

"What do any of them have to do with us?"

"They are dieing under your command Yomi that is why it concerns you and also me." Yomi shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm tired of this." Mayumi said standing up annoyed.

"Where are you going my Lady?" Yomi asked making her cringe as she put her hand to the door knob.

"Surely you're not making your leave so soon." He said. Mayumi rolled her eyes before turning around sweetly smiling.

"There are some things that Yoko wanted me to attend to. That's all."

"Such as?"

"Well there is a fortress that we caught wind of that holds unspeakable treasures but is impossibly defended naturally." Mayumi said weaving her lie.

"Really?"

"Yes here see for yourself." She said handing him an old map. She had carried it with her since Yoko had first taught her to scout. The place was long since abandoned but would play perfectly in her plans. Yomi inspected the map carefully.

"Hmmmm and Yoko's unsure of what to do yet."

"Thus far yes."

"Well then I have some business to attend too." Yomi said exiting the room. Mayumi sat on the edge of the bed grinning evilly.

"Phase one complete. Now onto phase two."

"So let me get this right Ms. Taisho. You don't want me to kill him just blind him?" The assassin asked. Mayumi nodded.

"That is correct. Under no circumstances no matter what happens will my name come up in this matter, for if it does I can assure you that I will do things to you that would make you beg me for your death." Mayumi said coldly. The assassin nodded clearly frightened of her and that was what she liked. Mayumi turned to walk away.

"Is there anything you want me to say to him?" He called after her. Mayumi stopped on her tracks.

"Tell him that the life is more important than the reward." She said without looking back once before going off.

The plan was set Yomi had bid her farewell that he would be back soon. Mayumi almost felt bad for sending him off to be set up but not quite. She had informed Kurama of her plan and he had agreed it was the best course of action however what he did not know that her plan was still in play.

"Rei kai? Have you lost your senses?" He asked her. Mayumi shook her head.

"Think of all the amazing treasures there are there. Besides it's not like we'd be the only demons there, there are others you know."

"I am aware but it won't be easy to enter or leave for that matter."

"They have no clue who we are up there Yoko. If you alternate between your fox and humanoid form then we'll be all set. No one will have to know. That way Yomi won't find us because I am tired of his crap."

"Yes as am I."

So it came to be that Mayumi Taisho and Yoko Kurama left the Makai together to enter the Rei kai to start fresh up there. Before long the pair were infamously known through out all three worlds.

"Read this Yoko it will surely stroke your ego some more." Mayumi said throwing a paper at him. Kurama caught it easily and glanced at it.

"Legendary duo huh? Well it's about time."

"Yes high time we got our recognition." Mayumi agreed wholeheartedly. Yoko's grin turned to an irritated growl.

"What's wrong kitsune?" She asked tightening her bow string.

"It says here we have only been plundering this world for three hundred years. We have been in Rei kai for five centuries now."

"Oh please. Don't let it get to you. That article was written by either some low level trash or lacky to Yama." Mayumi stated.

"Joining me for tonight's heist?" Yoko asked standing up. Mayumi nodded.

"Yeah I'll be right there just give me a minute." She said. Mayumi watched as Yoko exited the den that they shared. This one was not spacious as their former home had been but it suited it's purpose well. Mayumi packed her quiver with arrows all the while thinking what next. Ever since they had arrived in this world she had been asking herself what next? How was she to exact her revenge on the fox? She knew for certain that it would be soon. Perhaps in another couple hundred years or so.

Most of the fortress's in Rei kai were easy to break into which is what attracted demons to it. Mayumi and Kurama toyed with the few guards whom were actually there before seizing their prize and fleeing. However fate was to play a hand that night. Mayumi stopped dead in her tracks as she glanced a beautiful red pendant attached to a gold chain splayed out in plain view. Mayumi ran for it and reached to grab it only to bump hands with someone else. She looked up to be met with a pair of violet eyes staring at her almost surprised.

"Well what have we here?" He asked mostly to himself.

"None of your god damned business." Mayumi said grabbing the necklace and running off. Keenly this stranger swooped down on her and knocked the treasure from her hand.

"Excuse me but that's mine." He said picking it up. Mayumi grabbed the chain.

:I saw it first!" She said angrily.

"It was mine before it was yours." He said becoming agitated as well.

"Not my fault if you lost it now give it!"

"Like hell I will!" He snapped at her. Mayumi grasped at it with both hands as the tugging contest ensued. Mayumi kicked out from underneath him making him topple over. He fell onto his back hard enough to knock the wind out of him. Mayumi grinned as she straddled him trying to grab the necklace. The two wrestled over it for some time actually enjoying themselves when the chain began to snap. The strangers eyes grew wide and he let go.

"Ha! I win!" Mayumi declared triumphantly getting to her feet.

"I let go because I didn't want it to break." He said almost sadly. He stood up and watched her as she let it dangle from her hand.

"Just please take care of it." He said softly before turning to walk away. That was when Mayumi noticed the tare in his wing. She almost gasped in recognition, could it be the same bat apparition whom was in the room when Rin died?

"Hey you?" Mayumi called out. He turned around. Gain his trust ask questions later.

"Here take it. I don't want it." Mayumi said sweetly. He eyed her oddly for a moment untrusting. Mayumi let out an irritated sigh.

"It's of no use to me. It's junk. Why would someone like me want garbage like that?" Mayumi said shaking it in front of her for him to take it. Hesitantly he reached a hand towards her to take it.

"So what are you doing here?" She asked him. He glanced at her as he clasped the chain around his neck.

"I'm just hunting." He said softly. Mayumi nodded and walked closer to him.

"I see."

"And you?"

"Just looting." She said nonchalantly.

"Pretty bold of you." He stated becoming seemingly interested in her. Mayumi shrugged.

"Do you have any place to stay?" Mayumi asked trying to keep an innocent expression which became increasingly harder as her soul became more tainted.

"Where ever I like that is where I stay."

"Any where safe?" He looked away to the side before answering.

"No. I only just arrived here not too long ago."

"Well then come on. You can stay with me." She said exiting the fortress quickly. At first she didn't think he would follow her but soon she heard his footsteps close behind her.

"What the hell is this?" Kurama asked when she arrived with the bat apparition.

"I found him so I decided to keep him." Mayumi said possessively.

"What as a pet?"

"I am no one's pet!" Both Kurama and Mayumi glared at him.

"You want to keep him Mayu?"

"Yes Yoko! I want to keep him."

"Then control him!" Kurama snapped at her before picking up a scroll to read it over.

"Y-Yoko? Mayu? As in Yoko Kurama and Mayumi Taisho!" He asked in astonishment. Mayumi turned to look at him with a smile on her face knowing that the recognition amused Kurama as well.

"So you've heard of us have you?" She asked sweetly. He simply nodded.

"Well you know us but who the hell are you?" Kurama asked hotly.

"Kuronue. I am Kuronue." He said.

"That's a nice name." Mayumi said sincerely. Kuronue shrugged.

"I've always have been partial to it." He said watching them both carefully.

"So your not a thief then, huh?"

"No."

"Then why are you in Reikai?"

"I didn't have anything better to do tonight. Besides hunting low level demons does become dull after a while. Now hunting spirit world devotees is much more fun." He said brightly.

"I don't believe in killing for sport." Mayumi stated.

"That's nice but I do. It's in my blood."

Kurama looked up from what he was reading to examine Kuronue.

"Hope you enjoy putting up with righteous Mayumi." He said grinning that damned cocky grin. Kuronue gave a short laugh.

"Imagine that, a thief who doesn't enjoy the hunt. Hmmm…interesting." Kuronue said mockingly. Mayumi flushed before becoming heated.

"No I do not. Imps are not the violent type."

"But you do kill from time to time?" Kuronue asked.

"Mayumi is a hypocrite, something you'll learn soon enough." Kurama said resuming his reading.

"Yeah I can tell. You can read it in her eyes." Kuronue said. Mayumi clenched her fists.

"What the hell is this? Why are you two ganging up on me?"

"Get over yourself. It's all in fun." Kuronue said laughing.

"Yeah at my expense." She said laying down on her mattress.

"Oh come on, don't be like that." Kuronue said.

"Another thing you'll learn about Mayu is she can dish it out but she sure as hell can't eat it." Kurama said.

Mayumi sighed before turning her back to the both of them. They knew each other, she could tell just by the way they acted around each other. According to what Yomi had said that night was it was Kinta who had killed Rin but Mayumi was more than sure that Kuronue had something to do with it as well. It was just another plan of Yoko's for her to meet Kuronue and bring him back here. Did the fox know what she had planned for him? No he couldn't possibly know, he was a genius not psychic. Perhaps Yomi had not been none too faithful to her as well and told Kurama about their relationship, if it could have even been called that. Yomi was irrational, impulsive and violent but not suicidal. Maybe Yoko didn't know Kuronue maybe this was just fate.

"Yeah right. What has fate ever done for me?" Mayumi whispered to herself. She turned back over onto her back and stared at the 'ceiling.' The same thought tumbled through her head. Does he know what I am planning? Even though Mayumi didn't quite know what to do next she was sure a door would open with the answer.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave." Kurama stated suddenly. Mayumi shot straight up out of bed and stared at him.

"What did you just say?" She whispered hoarsely.

"That is what it says here in this scroll. Must be a human saying. Why, aren't you jumpy Mayumi. Anything on your mind?" Yoko asked with that grin. Mayumi shook her head slowly.

"Good too know. You'll need your full attention and your senses intact for tomorrows plans." Mayumi nodded knowing well that breaking into the royal vault was suicide in itself let alone if one was distracted. Meaning she would have to figure out Kuronue later.

"Hold on a second." Mayumi said to herself. She grabbed the vault inventory list she had gotten from the guard that formerly guarded the vault and it's treasures. Too bad for him to cross paths with Mayumi, whom had been nick named Black Widow.

Mayumi scanned the list reading off the artifacts.

"The Forlorn Hope, the Shadow Sword, the Orb of Bask, Kaguya's Pendant and the Ocarina of Truth. That's it." Mayumi stated quietly.

'The Ocarina of Truth. Mystical ocarina that enables the one playing it to put it's listeners into a state of unconsciousness that forces them to answer questions truthfully.' The description read. Mayumi glanced at Kuronue, whom had made himself quite comfortable on her bed, to Yoko. She believed that he had arranged for everyone she knew and cared for to be killed but she had to hear him say it.

"Find something of interest to you?" He asked taking a swig of ale. Mayumi made no response. Yoko watched her carefully before flattening his ears and lowering his gaze. Mayumi was in shock he never took his gaze from anyone let alone her. He looked back up at her with that non menacing stare and out stretched his hand for her to come closer.

"Yes?" She asked in arms length of him.

"Osuwarii." He said quietly patting his lap. Hesitantly Mayumi sat.

"It's been a while since we were this close." She said resting her head against his chest.

"Yes it has hasn't it?" Yoko replied wrapping his arms around her.

"What are you planning Mayu?" He asked softly. Mayumi's heart sunk into her stomach and she knew he could feel her trembling.

"Why do you seek the truth when you already know it?" He asked. Mayumi felt her heart beat pound into her ears.

"What nonsense are you speaking of?" She asked feeling her mouth go dry.

"Don't play innocent with me Mayumi Taisho. You want the ocarina to get the truth out of me. Why when it will only cause you more pain." Mayumi didn't answer.

"Let's not make our story a tragedy Mayumi." Yoko said sincerely.

"I won't, you have already done that for us kitsune. From the very beginning that's all our relationship has come to and for what?" This time Kurama did not reply only rested his chin against her head.

"I would have gone with you. There was no need to create such an elaborate setup. It could have been different between us, if you had simply come and asked me to leave with you and given up this profession we could have been happy." Mayumi said turning her face closer to his.

"Yes well that's not the way of it is it? Are you not happy Mayu?" He asked sadly. Mayumi's breath hitched a little. Was she happy? She had been so busy planning and plotting the past eight hundred years to stop and think about it. Everyone had been dead for nearly a millennium so what did it matter?

"I, I don't know." She said finally.

Yoko brushed his lips briefly against hers before standing up sending her crashing to the ground.

"Your going to kill me aren't you?" She asked putting a finger to her lips and closing her eyes.

"I should." He growled.

"But?"

"I won't." He said laying down on his cot.

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't know. Sleep on the floor tonight." He said and turned his back to her.